IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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1.0 


I.I 


lAilZe    |25 

lu  IM   12.2 

IS  BA   "~ 
:^    U£    12.0 


III 


iiiiim 


IL25  mil  1.4 


III 


1.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTER.N.Y.  MS80 

(716)872-4503 


6^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  IMicroreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquas 


Tachnical  and  Bibliographic  Notaa/Nota*  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquas 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chadcaid  balow. 


D 


D 


D 

D 


D 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I      I    Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagAa 


Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurAa  at/ou  palliculto 


I      I   Cover  titia  miaaing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  gAographiquaa  en  coulaur 


□   Colourad  init  (I. a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

I      I   Colourad  piataa  and/or  iliuatrationa/ 


Planchaa  at/ou  iliuatrationa  an  coulaur 

Bound  with  othar  material/ 
Rali6  avac  d'autraa  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  aerr^e  peut  cauaar  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortion  la  long  de  la  marge  intArieure 

Blank  leavea  added  during  reatoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaibie,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainea  pagea  blanchea  ajoutAea 
lore  d'une  reatauration  apparaiaaent  dana  la  texte, 
maia,  loraque  cela  6tait  poaaibie,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  M  filmAea. 

Additional  commenta:/ 
Commantairea  aupplAmantairaa; 


Thee 
toth( 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  mailleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  poaaibie  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniquaa  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mAthode  normale  de  f ilmage 
aont  indiquAa  ci-dasaoua. 


r~n   Colourad  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagtes 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  reataur^es  at/ou  paiiiculies 


I     I   Pagea  damaged/ 

I      I   Pages  reatorad  and/or  laminated/ 


Thai 
poaai 
of  th( 
filmir 


Origii 
begin 
theli 
aion, 
other 
firat  I 
aion, 
or  ilii 


0    Pagea  diacolourad.  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6color6es,  tachaties  ou  piqudes 

□    Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  dttachdes 

0Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

□   Quality  of  print  varies/ 
Quality  inigaia  de  I'lmpression 

□   Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppl^mentaire 

□   Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


Theli 
shall 
TINU 
whici 

Mapa 

differ 

entire 

begin 

right 

requii 

meth< 


0 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc..  have  been  rcf limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuiltet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  M  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  i 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


Thi9  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

V 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Tha  copy  filmad  h«ra  hat  baan  raproduoad  thanks 
to  tha  ganaroiity  of: 

Ralph  PI«iMrd  Bill  Library 
Mount  Alliaon  Unlvaralty 


L'axamplaira  film*  f ut  raproduit  grica  A  la 
gAnArositA  da: 

Ralph  Pfckard  Ball  Library 
Mount  AlliMHi  Univanity 


Tha  imagaa  appta.ing  hara  ara  tha  bait  quality 
poMibIa  conaldac^.jg  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  ar^  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apaoifioatlont. 


Original  copies  in  printad  papar  covers  ara  fiimad 
beginning  with  tha  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  originel  copies  ara  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^-(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  tha  symbol  Y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Lea  images  suivantas  ont  it4  raproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  da  i'exempieire  filmA,  et  en 
conformity  avec  ies  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmaga. 

Lea  exemplairas  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  ImprimAe  sent  filmte  en  commen^ent 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustrstion,  soit  per  le  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  axempiairea 
originaux  sont  fiimAs  en  commenpant  par  la 
pramidre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'Impression  ou  d'illustration  at  an  terminant  par 
la  darniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
derniftre  image  da  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  ie 
symbols  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  cherts,  etc..  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  ara  fiimad 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Las  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rants. 
Lorsqua  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  11  est  film*  6  partir 
de  i'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  has,  en  prenant  la  nombra 
d'images  nicessaira.  Las  diagrammes  suivanta 
iilustrent  ia  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


'' '  1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

w 


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AN  EPIC  POEM, 


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NEM     YORK: 
Vh  UlHh   AND   IIOUnilTON 


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MTINGAL:  AN  EPIC  POEM. 


BY 


JOHN   TRUMBULL. 


I 


WITH  INTRODUCTION  AND  NOTES, 
By  BENSON  J.   LOSSING, 

AUTHOR  OF  '*  PICTORIAL  HEtD-BOOK  OF  THE  RKVOLUTION,''  ITO. 


7    V 


NEW    YOKK: 
G.  p.  PUTNAM;   HUIll)   AND   MOUCillTON. 

401  Broadway,  cou.  Walkkh  Sthkkt. 

-.    -  '  18G4. 

MkM\i 

HMMfWrf 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  185T,  by 

Q.  P.  PUTNAM, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  fot 
the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


RIVERSIDE,     CAMBRIDQE: 
PRINTED  D7  H.  0.  ROOGHTOK  AND  COMPANY. 


» 


INTRODUCTION. 


-«♦•- 


The  scenes  and  incidents  of  the  old  war  for 
independence,  known  as  the  American  Revolu- 
tion, furnished  themes  for  contemplation  and 
comment  for  every  variety  of  minds,  and  evolved 
many  brilliant  sparks  of  genius  which  might 
otherwise  have  remained  latent  in  the  flint  of 
common  thought.  While  the  pow^r.^  of  highest 
statesmanship  and  military  skill  were  demanded 
in  the  management  of  great  public  interests, 
there  appeared  much  in  the  details  of  current 
events  to  excite  mirth  and  provoke  the  keenest 
weapons  of  wit  and  satire  to  wonderful  activity. 
Prudence  generally  commended  anonymity  to 
those  who  used  the  Press  for  the  exercise  of 
these  weapons,  at  a  time  when  there  was  an 
enemy  in  every  bush.     But  such  active  men  as 


Introduction. 


Paine,  Hopkinson,  Freneau,  Tnunbull,  and  others 
of  less  note,  could  not  long  wear  the  disguise  so 
as  effectually  to  conceal  themselves,  and  they 
became  objects  of  admiration  for  the  Patriots, 
and  of  hatred  for  the  Loyalists. 

Of  all  the  literary  productions  of  that  day, 
having  for  its  theme  the  character  and  doings 
of  the  men  and  times  of  the  Revolution,  the 
remarkable  epic  entitled  M'Fingal  is  confess- 
edly most  deserving  of  immortality.  It  holds 
an  honorable  place  among  works  of  highest 
poetic  merit ;  and  as  a  satire,  applied  with  scath- 
ing power  to  those  who  opposed  the  war,  and 
were  active  in  their  loyalty  to  the  king,  it  ex- 
hibits force  rarely  equalled,  and  never  surpassed 
by  its  predecessors  in  that  peculiar  field.  That 
force  can  be  appreciated  now,  when  almost 
three  generations  of  men  have  passed  away 
since  the  actors  in  the  drama  were  upon  the 
stage,  only  by  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
point  of  each  allusion,  drawn  from  the  charac- 
ter of  the  times,  and  familiarity  with  the  social 
and  political  position  of  the  victims  of  the  keen 
Damascene  blade  of  the  satirist. 

The  late  Timothy  Dwight,  President  of  Yale 
College,  who  was  a  compatriot,  a  brother  poet. 


Introduction. 


and  a  friend  of  the  author,  writing  in  long-afler 
years,  said :  **  It  may  he  ohserved,  without  any 
partiality,  that  MTingal  is  not  inferior  in  wit 
and  humor  to  Hudihras ;  and  in  every  other  re- 
spect is  superior.  It  has  a  regular  plan,  in 
which  all  the  parts  are  well  proportioned  and 
connected.  The  subject  is  fairly  proposed,  and 
the  story  conducted  through  a  series  of  ad- 
vancements and  retardations  to  a  catastrophci 
which  is  natural  and  complete.  The  versifica- 
tion is  far  better,  the  poetry  is  in  several  in- 
stances in  a  good  degree  elegant,  and  in  some 
even  sublime.  It  is  also  free  from  those  endless 
digressions,  which,  notwithstanding  the  wit  dis- 
covered in  them,  are  so  tedious  in  Hudibras ; 
the  protuberances  of  which  are  a  much  larger 
mass  than  the  body  on  which  they  grow." 

"  The  Hudibrastio  body,"  says  the  Cyclopm' 
dia  of  American  Literature^  "is  thoroughly 
interpenetrated  by  its  American  spirit.  The 
illustrations,  where  there  were  the  greatest 
temptations  to  plagiarism,  are  drawn  from  the 
writer's  own  biblical  and  classical  reading,  and 
the  colloquial  familiarities  of  the  times.  For 
the  manners  of  the  poem,  there  is  no  record  of 
the  period  which  supplies  so  vivid  a  presenta- 


Introduction. 


tion  of  the  old  Revolutionary  Whig  habits  of 
thinking  and  acting.  Wo  are  among  the  ac- 
tors of  the  day — the  town  committees,  the  yeo- 
manry, the  politicians  and  soldiers,  participating 
in  the  rough  humors  of  the  times  ;  for  nothing 
is  more  characteristic  of  the  struggle  than  a 
certain  vein  of  pleasantry  and  hearty  animal 
spirits  which  entered  into  it.  Hardships  were 
endured  with  fortitude,  for  which  there  was 
occasion  enough,  but  the  contest  was  carried 
on  with  wit  as  with  other  weapons." 

The  purpose  of  the  poem  was  explained  by 
the  author  himself,  in  a  letter  to  the  Marquis  de 
Chastellux,  written  in  1785.  "  It  had  been  un- 
dertaken,'' he  said,  ^'  at  the  instigation  of  some 
of  the  leading  members  of  the  first  Congress, 
who  urged  him  to  compose  a  satirical  poem  on 
the  events  of  the  campaign  in  the  year  1776 ;" 
and  that  he  "had  aimed  at  expressing,  in  a 
poetical  manner,  a  general  account  of  the 
American  contest,  with  a  particular  description 
of  the  character  and  manners  of  the  times,  in- 
terspersed with  anecdotes,  which  no  history 
could  probably  record  or  display ;  and  where  as 
much  impartiality  as  possible,  satirize  the  follies 
and  extravagancies  of  his  countrymen,  as  well  as 


Introduction. 


of  their  enemies.  I  determined,"  he  says,  "to 
describe  every  subject  in  the  manner  it  struck 
my  own  imagination,  and  without  confining  my- 
self to  a  perpetual  effort  at  wit,  drollery  and 
himior,  indulge  every  variety  of  manner,  as  my 
subject  varied,  and  insert  all  the  ridicule,  satire, 
sense,  sprightliness  and  elevation,  of  which  I 
was  master."  How  well  this  design  was  exe- 
cuted, the  intelligent  reader  will  discover. 

The  first  and  second  cantos  of  M'Fingal  were 
published  as  one,  in  a  thin  pamphlet  of  forty 
pages,  by  William  and  Thomas  Bradford,  of 
Philadelphia.  It  was  issued  in  the  Autumn  of 
1775,  as  Canto  Z,  or  the  Town-Meeting,  In 
the  course  of  the  next  year  it  was  reprinted  in 
London,  where  it  passed  through  several 
editions,  and  was  very  popular  with  the  anti- 
ministerial  party  in  Great  Britain  and  America. 
For  a  long  time  it  was  believed  to  be  the  pro- 
duction of  some  English  scholar,  and  made  a 
very  favorable  impression  everywhere,  on  ac- 
count of  its  literary  merits.  As  a  political 
satire  it  was  regarded  as  inimitable,  and  was 
praised  by  men  of  all  parties.  But  when  it  was 
known  that  the  author  was  a  native  of  New 
England,  the  London  press  and  loyal  writers  in 


8 


Introducti on 


America,  poured  obloquy  and  contempt  upon 
him  in  full  measure. 

When  the  first  part  of  M'Fingal  was  pub- 
lished, the  aathor  had  sketched  a  plan  for  its 
extension,  but  he  did  not  take  it  up  again  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  when  his  friends  urged  him 
to  complete  it.  He  did  so,  by  dividing  the  first 
half  into  two  cantos,  and  adding  two  more. 
The  whole  work  was  printed  and  published  by 
Hudson  and  Godwin  at  Hartford  in  Connecticut, 
before  the  close  of  1782.  Of  that  edition  the 
one  now  offered  to  the  public  is  a  faithful  tran- 
script. 

In  the  explanatory  notes  appended  to  the 
Poem  in  the  present  edition,  the  reader  will 
find  that  full  information  which  is  necessary  to 
a  proper  appreciation  of  the  force  of  the  satire. 

John  TrumbuU,  tne  author  of  M'Fingal,  was 
the  child  of  a  congregational  minister.  He  was 
an  only  son,  delicate  in  physical  constitution, 
and  a  favorite  of  his  accomplished  mother.  He 
was  an  exceedingly  precocious  child,  and  at  the 
age  of  seven  years  was  considered  qualified  to 
enter  Yale  College,  as  a  student.  There  he 
was  graduated,  in  1767,  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Arts,  and  remained  a  student  three 


Introduction. 


years  longer.  He  turned  his  attention  chiefly 
to  polite  literature,  as  well  as  the  Greek  and 
Latin  classics,  and  became  a  most  accomplished 
scholar.  He  and  Timothy  Dwight  became  in 
timate  friends,  and  the  bond  of  mutual  attach- 
ment was  severed  only  by  death.  They  were 
co-essayists,  in  1769;  and,  in  1771,  they  were 
both  appointed  tutors  in  the  coDege.  The  fol- 
lowing year  young  Trumbull  published  the  first 
part  of  a  poem  entitled  The  Progress  of  Dul- 
ness.  He  selected  the  law  as  his  profession, 
and  devoted  much  of  his  leisure  time  to  its 
study.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1773, 
but  immediately  afterward  went  to  Boston,  and 
placed  himself  under  the  instructions  of  John 
Adams.  While  in  Boston  he  wrote  an  Elegy 
on  the  Times,  a  poem  in  sixty-eight  stanzas, 
which  celebrated  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  the 
non-importation  associations,  and  the  present 
strength  and  future  glory  of  the  country.  He 
commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Hartford,  in 
1781,  and  soon  became  distinguished  for  legal 
acumen  and  forensic  eloquence.  As  we  have 
obsei:ved,  his  M'Fingal  was  completed,  and 
published  at  Hartford  in  1782.  As  authors 
were  then  unprotected  by  copyright  laws,  there 


10 


Introduction. 


were  more  than  thirty  different  pirated  impres- 
sions  printed,  and  circulated  by  "  newsmongers, 
hawkers,  peddlers,  and  petty  chapmen." 

Mr.  Trumbull  was  soon  afterward  associated 
with  Humphreys,  Barlow,  and  Dr.  Lemuel 
Hopkins,  in  the  production  of  a  work  which 
they  styled  The  Anarchiad,  It  contained  bold 
satire,  and  exerted  considerable  influence  on 
the  popular  taste. 

In  1789,  Mr.  Trumbull  was  appointed  State 
Attorney  for  the  county  of  Hartford ;  and,  in 
1792,  he  represented  that  district  in  the  Con- 
necticut legislature.  His  health  failed ;  and,  in 
1795,  he  resigned  his  office,  and  declined  aU 
public  business.  Toward  the  close  of  1798,  a 
severe  illness  formed  the  crisis  of  his  nervous 
excitement,  and  after  that  his  health  was  much 
better.  He  was  again  elected  to  a  seat  in  the 
State  legislature  in  May,  1800,  and  the  follow- 
ing year  he  was  appointed  a  judge  of  the  Su- 
perior Court  of  Connecticut.  From  that  time 
he  abandoned  party  politics,  as  inconsistent 
with  judicial  duties.  In  1808,  he  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors, 
in  which  office  he  remained  several  years.  In 
the  year  1805,  "Woodruff  and  Periam  printed  an 


Introduction. 


II 


edition  of  M*Fingal  at  Elizabethtown,  in  New 
Jersey,  by  permission  of  the  author.  In  1820, 
he  revised  his  works,  and  they  were  published 
in  Hartford,  in  handsome  style,  by  Samuel  G. 
Goodrich,  from  whom  the  author  received  the 
handsome  compensation  of  one  thousand  dol- 
lars. 

Judge  Trumbull  and  his  wife  went  to  De- 
troit in  1825,  and  made  their  abode  with  their 
daughter,  Mrs.  "Woodbridge,  where  he  died  of 
gradual  decay,  on  the  10th  of  May,  1831,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one  years. 


/  > 


(    I 


I  > 


M'FINGAL  : 


A     MODERN 


EPIC       POEM, 


In    four    cantos. 


Ergo  non  fatis  eft  rifu  diducere  riftum 
Auditoris :  et  eft  quaedam  tamen  hie  quoque  virtus ; 
Eft  brevitate  opus,  ut  currat  fententia,  neu  fe 
Impediat  verbis  laflas  onerantibus  aures. 
Et  fermone  opus  eft  modo  trifti,  faepe  jocofo, 
Defendente  vicem  modo  Rhetoris,  atque  Poetae, 
Interdum  urbani  parcentis  viribus  atque 
Extenuantis  eas  confulto.     Ridiculum  acri 
Fortius  et  melius  magnas  plerumque  fecat  res. 

Horat.  Lib.  i.  Sat.  lo. 


HARTFORD: 

Printed    by    Hudson    and    Goodwin,    near    the 
Great  Bridge,  1782. 


**'  '**J8C^***,  i**^SGt^***  '••jflOfttM  »— 3tf^»»  wtj 


M*FINGAL : 


CANTO       FIRST 


OR 


The  town-meeting,  A.  M. 


TT/'HEN  YankiesS  fkiU'd  in  martial  rule, 
Firft  put  the  Britifli  troops  to  fchool  j 
Inftrufted  them  in  warlike  trade. 
And  new  manoeuvres  of  parade ; 
The  true  war-dance  of  Yanky-reels, 
And  manual  exercife  of  heels  5 
Made  them  give  up,  like  faints  complete. 
The  arm  of  flefh  and  truft  the  feet. 
And  work,  Uke  Chriftians  undiflembling. 
Salvation  out,  by  fear  and  trembling"; 
Taught  Percy  falhionable  races. 
And  modern  ;nodcs  of  Chevy-chaccs ' : 


From 


( 


H 


1  /', 


i    ^ 


( 


1 

(   ' 


i6 


M'Finqal: 


[canto 


--» 


From  Bofton,  in  his  bell  array,  \ 

Great  'Squire  M'Fingal*  took  his  way. 
And  graced  with  enligns  of  renown, 
Steer'd  homeward  to  his  native  town. 

His  high  defcent  our  heralds  trace 
To  Offian's  famed  Fingalian  race : 
For  tho*  their  name  fome  part  may  lack. 
Old  Fingal  Ipelt  it  with  a  Mac ; 
Which  great  M'Pherfon,  with  fubmiffion 
We  hope  will  add,  the  next  edition'. 


His  fathers  flourilh*d  in  the  Highlands 
Of  Scotia's  fog-benighted  iflands ; 
Whence  gain*d  our  'Squire  two  gifts  by  right. 
Rebellion  and  the  Second-light", 
Of  these  the  iirft,  in  ancient  days. 
Had  gain*d  the  nobleft  palms  of  praife, 
'Gainft  Kings  flood  forth  and  many  a  crown'd  head 
With  terror  of  its  might  confounded  j 
Till  rofe  a  King  with  potent  charm 
His  foes  by  goodnefs  to  difarm. 

Whom 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       17 


Whom  ev'iy  Scot  and  Jacobite" 
Straight  fell  in  love  with,  at  iirft  fight ; 
Whofe  gracious  fpeech,  with  aid  of  penfions, 
Hufh*d  down  all  murmurs  of  diflenfions. 
And  with  the  found  of  potent  metal. 
Brought  all  their  bluft'ring  swarms  to  fettle*; 
Who  rain*d  his  minifterial  mannas. 
Till  loud  Sedition  fung  hofannahs ; 
The  good  Lords-Bilhops  and  the  Kirk 
United  in  the  public  work^; 
Rebellion  from  the  Northern  regions. 
With  Bute  and  Mansfield  fwore  allegiance^**; 
And  all  combined  to  raze  as  nuifance. 
Of  church  and  ftate,  the  conftitutions ; 
Pull  down  the  empire,  on  whofe  ruins 
They  meant  to  edify  their  new  ones ; 
Enflave  th*  American  wildernefles. 
And  tear  the  provinces  in  pieces  " : 
For  thefe  our  'Squire  among  the  valiant*ft,  ' 
£mploy*d  his  time  and  tools  and  talents ; 
And  in  their  caufe  with  manly  zeal 

* 

Ufed  his  firft  virtue,  to  rebel ; 


And 


It 


M'FlNQAL : 


[canto 


(I 


1/ 


And  found  this  new  rebellion  pleafing 
As  his  old  king-deflroying  treafon. 

Nor  lefs  avail'd  his  optic  fleight^ 
And  Scottifh  gift  of  fecond-fight. 
No  antient  fybil  fam*d  in  rhyme 
Saw  deeper  in  the  womb  of  time  "  j 
No  block  in  old  Dodona's'^  grove. 
Could  ever  more  orac*lar  prove. 
Nor  only  faw  he  all  that  was. 
But  much  that  never  came  to  pass ; 
Whereby  all  Prophets  far  outwent  he, 
Tho'  former  days  produced  a  plenty; 
For  any  man  with  half  an  eye. 
What  ftands  before  him  may  efpy; 
But  optics  fharp  it  needs  I  ween. 
To  fee  what  is  not  to  be  feen. 
As  in  the  days  of  antient  fame 
Prophets  and  poets  were  the  fame. 
And  all  the  praife  that  poets  gain 
Is  but  for  what  th'  invent  and  feign : 
So  gain*d  our  'Squire  his  fame  by  feeing 
Such  things  as  never  would  have  being. 


Whence 


nR8T.]  The  Town-Meeting,  a.  m«       19 

Whence  he  for  oracles  was  grown 

The  very  tripod"  of  his  town.  , 

Gazettes  no  fooner  rofe  a  lye  in, 

But  ilraight  he  fell  to  prophefying ; 

Made  dreadful  flaughter  in  his  courie. 

Overthrew  provincials,  foot  and  horfe ; 

Brought  armies  o*er  by  fudden  preffings 

Of  Hanoverians,  Swifs  and  HefEans*^; 

Feafted  with  blood  his  Scottifh  clan. 

And  hang'd  all  rebels,  to  a  man ; 

Divided  their  eftates  and  pelf. 

And  took  a  goodly  fhare  himfelf '^ 

All  this  with  fpirit  energetic. 

He  did  by  fecond-fight  prophetic. 

Thus  ftor'd  with  intelledlual  riches. 
Skilled  was  our  *Squire  in  making  fpeeches. 
Where  ftrength  of  brain  united  centers 
With  ftrength  of  lungs  furpaffing  Stentor's". 
But  as  fome  mufquets  fo  contrive  it. 
As  oft  to  mifs  the  mark  they  drive  at. 
And  tho*  well  aim*d  at  duck  or  plover. 
Bear  wide  and  kick  their  owners  over : 

So 


i 

t 


, 


20 


M'FiNOAL : 


So  far*d  our  'Squire,  whofc  rcas*ning  toil 
Would  often  on  himfclf  recoil. 
And  fo  much  injured  more  his  fide. 
The  ftronger  arg'ments  he  applied : 
As  old  war-elephants  difmay'd, 
Trode  down  the  troops  they  came  to  aid. 
And  hurt  their  own  fide  more  in  battle 
Than  lefs  and  ordinary  cattle. " 
Yet  at  town-meetings  ev*ry  chief 
Pinn'd  faith  on  great  M'Fingal's  flecve. 
And  as  he  motion'd,  all  by  rote 
Rais'd  iympathetic  hands  to  vote. 

The  town,  our  Hero's  fcene  of  a£lion. 
Had  long  been  torn  by  feuds  of  faction. 
And  as  each  party's  ftrength  prevails. 
It  turn'd  up  diff'rent,  heads  or  tails ; 
With  conftant  rattling  in  a  trice 
Show'd  various  fides  as  oft  as  dice : 
As  that  fam'd  weaver,  wife  t'  Ulyfles, 
By  night  each  day's  work  pick'd  in  pieces. 
An  tho'  flie  ftoutly  did  beftir  her. 
Its  finifhing  was  ne'er  the  nearer  ^°: 


[canto 


So 


FIRST.]  ThI    ToWN-MeBTINO,    a.    M.         21 

So  did  this  town  with  Itcdf aft  zeal 

Weave  cob-w  'bs  for  tiie  public  weal,  , 

Which  when  compleated,  or  before, 

A  fccond  vote  in  pieces  tore. 

They  met,  made  fpeeches  full  long  winded, 

Refolv*d,  protefted,  and  refcinded ; 

AddrefTes  figned,  then  chofe  Committees, 

To  ftop  all  drinking  of  Bohea-teas ; 

With  winds  of  doftrine  veer'd  about. 

And  turn*d  all  Whig-Conmiittees  out*'. 

Meanwhile  our  Hero,  as  their  head. 

In  pomp  the  tory^'  faftion  led. 

Still  following,  as  the  'Squire  fhould  please, 

SuccefTive  on,  like  files  of  gcefe. 

And  now  the  town  was  fununon*d  greeting. 

To  grand  parading  of  town-meeting ; 

A  fliow,  that  ftrangers  might  appall. 

As  Rome's  grave  fenate  did  the  Gaul*^. 

High  o*er  the  rout,  on  pulpit  flairs'®. 

Like  den  of  thieves  in  houfe  of  pray*rs, 

(TKat  houfe,  which  loth  a  rule  to  break. 

Served  heav*n  but  one  day  in  the  week. 

Open 


4 

( 


I  ■ 


i , 


22 


M'FlNGAL : 


[CAKTO 


Open  the  reft  for  all  fupplies 

Of  news  and  politics  and  lies) 

Stood  forth  the  conftable,  and  bore 

His  ftafF,  like  Merc'ry*s  wand  of  yore  ^, 

Wav*d  potent  round,  the  peace  to  keep. 

As  that  laid  dead  men's  fouls  to  fleep. 

Above  and  near  th*  hermetic  ftaff. 

The  moderator's  upper  half, 

In  grandeur  o'er  the  cufhion  bow'd. 

Like  Sol  half-feen  behind  a  cloud.*^ 

Beneath  flood  voters  of  all  colours, 

Whigs,  tories,  orators  and  bawlers. 

With  ev'ry  tongue  in  either  faftion, 

Prepar'd,  like  minute-men'*,  for  aftion ; 

Where  truth  and  falfehood,  wrong  and  right. 

Draw  all  their  legions  out  to  fight ; 

With  equal  uproar,  fcarcely  rave, 

Oppoling  winds  in  ^olus'  cave^; 

Such  dialogues  with  earneft  face. 

Held  never  Balaam  with  his  afs^. 

With  daring  zeal  and  courage  b^-^ft 
Honorius*^  firft  the  crowd  addrefs'dj 


When 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       z$ 

When  now  our  'Squire  returning  late. 
Arrived  to  aid  the  grand  debate. 
With  ftrange  four  faces  fat  him  down. 
While  thus  the  orator  went  on. 


« . 


—  For  ages  bleft,  thus  Britain  rofe 
The  terror  of  encircling  foes ; 
Her  heroes  rul'd  the  bloody  plain ; 
Her  conq'ring  ftandard  aw'd  the  main : 
The  different  palms  her  triumphs  grace. 
Of  arms  in  war,  of  arts  in  peace : 
Unharraff'd  by  maternal  care. 
Each  rifing  province  flourilh'd  fair  j 
Whofe  various  wealth  with  liberal  hand. 
By  far  o*er-paid  the  parent-land^. 
But  tho*  fo  bright  her  fun  might  fhine, 
'Twas  quickly  halting  to  decline. 
With  feeble  rays,  too  weak  t*  afluage. 
The  damps,  that  chill  the  eve  of  age. 


For  ftates,  like  men,  are  doomed  as  weU 
Th*  infirmities  of  age  to  feeP'j 


And 


T 


ii 


J. 


'  I  ^!; 


M 


III 


I  i 


24 


M*FlNGAL : 


[canto 


And  from  their  diff*rent  forms  of  empire 

Are  feiz'd  with  ev*ry  deep  diftemper. 

Some  ftates  high  fevers  have  made  head  in. 

Which  nought  could  cure  but  copious  bleeding ; 

While  others  have  grown  dull  and  dozy. 

Or  fix'd  in  helplefs  idiocy; 

Or  turn*d  demoniacs  to  belabour 

Each  peaceful  habitant  and  neighbour ; 

Or  vex't  with  hypocondriac  fits. 

Have  broke  their  ftrength  and  loft  their  wits. 

Thus  now  while  hoary  years  prevail. 
Good  Mother  Britain  feem*d  to  fail ; 
Her  back  bent,  crippled  with  the  weight 
Of  age  and  debts  and  cares  of  ftate : 
For  debts  ftie  ow*d,  and  thofe  fo  large. 
As  twice  her  wealth  could  not  difcharge. 
And  now  'twas  thought,  fo  high  they'd  grown. 
She'd  break  and  come  upon  the  town^S; 
Her  arms,  of  nations  once  the  dread. 
She  fcarce  could  lift  above  her  head ; 
Her  deafen'd  ears  ('twas  all  their  hope)   , 
The  final  trump  perhaps  might  ope. 


So 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m, 


25 


So  long  they'd  been  in  ftupid  mood. 
Shut  to  the  hearing  of  all  good ; 
Grim  Death  had  put  her  in  his  fcroll, 
Down  on  the  execution-roll ; 
And  Gallic  crows,  as  fhe  grew  weaker. 
Began  to  whet  their  beaks  to  pick  her^ 
And  now  her  pow*rs  decaying  faft. 
Her  grand  Clima£l'ric  had  fhe  paft. 
And,  juft  like  all  old  women  elfe. 
Fell  in  the  vapours  much  by  fpells. 
Strange  whimfies  on  her  fancy  ftruck. 
And  gave  her  brain  a  difmal  fhock ; 
Her  mem*ry  fails,  her  judgment  ends ; 
She  quite  forgot  her  neareft  friends. 
Loft  all  her  former  fenfe  and  knowledge. 
And  fitted  faft  for  Beth'lem  college  ^; 
Of  all  the  pow*rs  (he  once  retained. 
Conceit  and  pride  alone  remain'd. 
As  Eve  when  falling  was  fo  modeft 
To  fancy  fhe  fhould  grow  a  goddefs^S; 
As  madmen,  ftraw  who  long  have  flept  on. 
Will  stile  them,  Jupiter  or  Neptune: 


So 


< 


h 


■  \ 


(ji. 


1 '  !i 


iii 


i  ! 


I    , 
'  'I 


26 


M'Fingal: 


[canto 


So  Britain  'midfl  her  airs  fo  flighty^ 
Now  took  a  whim  to  be  Ahnighty; 
Urg*d  on  to  deip*rate  heights  of  frenzy, 
Affirm'd  her  own  Omnipotency^; 
Would  rather  ruin  all  her  race. 
Than  'bate  Supremacy  an  ace ; 
Aflumed  all  rights  divine,  as  grown 
The  churches  head",  like  good  Pope  Joan^i 
Swore  all  the  world  fhould  bow  and  fldp 
To  her  almighty  Goody fhip ; 
Anath'matiz'd  each  unbeliever. 
And  vow*d  to  live  and  rule  forever. 
Her  fervants  humour'd  every  whim. 
And  own*d  at  once  her  pow'r  fupreme. 
Her  follies  pleas'd  in  all  their  flages. 
For  fake  of  legacies  and  wages  5 
In  Stephen's  ChapeP  then  in  ftate  too 
Set  up  her  golden  calf  to  pray  to, 
Proclaim'd  its  pow'r  and  right  divine. 
And  call'd  for  worfhip  at  its  Ihrine, 
And  for  poor  Heretics  to  burn  us. 
Bade  North ^"  prepare  his  fiery  furnace; 


Struck 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.m.      27 


Struck  bargains  with  the  Romifti  churches 

Infallibility  to  purchafe ; 

Set  wide  for  Popery  the  door. 

Made  friends  with  Babel's  fcarlet  whore*'. 

Joined  both  the  matrons  firm  in  clan ; 

No  fillers  made  a  better  fpari. 

No  wonder  then,  ere  this  was  over. 

That  fhe  fhould  make  her  children  fuffer. 

She  firft,  without  pretence  of  reafon. 

Claimed  right  whatever  we  had  to  feize  on ; 

And  with  determin*d  refolution. 

To  put  her  claims  in  execution. 

Sent  fire  and  fword,  and  called  it.  Lenity, 

Starv'd  us,  and  chriften'd  it.  Humanity**^. 

For  fhe,  her  cafe  grown  defperater, 

Miftook  the  plaineft  things  in  nature ;     ' 

Had  loft  all  ufe  of  eyes  or  wits ; 

Took  flav'ry  for  the  bill  of  rights  ^^j 

Trembled  at  Whigs  and  deem'd  them  foes. 

And  ftopp'd  at  loyalty  her  nofe ; 

Stiled  her  own  children,  brats  and  caitiffs. 

And  knew  us  not  from  th*  Indian  natives. 


What 


28 


M'FlNGAL. 


[canto 


'l> 


What  tho*  with  fupplicating  pray*r 
We  begg'd  our  lives  and  goods  lhe*d  fpare*^; 
Not  vainer  vows,  with  lillier  call, 
Elijah*s  prophets  rais*d  to  Baal^j 
A  worlhipp'd  ftock  of  god,  or  goddefs. 
Had  better  heard  and  underftood  us. 
So  once  Egyptians  at  the  Nile 
Ador*d  their  guardian  Crocodile, 
Who  heard  them  firft  with  kindeft  ear. 
And  ate  them  to  reward  their  pray'r^; 
And  could  he  talk,  as  kings  can  do. 
Had  made  as  gracious  ipeeches  too  ^^. 

Thus  fpite  of  pray'rs  her  fchemes  purfuing. 
She  ftill  went  on  to  work  our  ruin ; 
AnnuU'd  our  charters  of  releafes^% 
And  tore  our  title-deeds  in  pieces ; 
Then  lign'd  her  warrants  of  ejedlion. 
And  gallows  rais'd  to  ftretch  our  necks  on : 
And  on  thefe  errands  fent  in  rage. 
Her  bailiff,  and  her  hangman.  Gage  ^^. 
And  at  his  heels,  like  dogs  to  bait  us, 
Difpatch*d  heri^oiTe  Comitatus^. 


, 


No 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meetino,   a.m.     29 


No  ftate  e'er  chofe  a  fitter  perfbn. 
To  carry  fuch  a  filly  farce  on. 
As  Heathen  gods  in  antient  days 
Received  at  fecond-hand  their  praife. 
Stood  imag'd  forth  in  Hones  and  flocks. 
And  deified  in  barber's  blocks ; 
So  Gage  was  chofe  to  reprefent 
Th*  omnipotence  of  Parliament. 
And  as  old  heroes  gain'd,  by  ihifts. 
From  gods,  as  poets  tell,  their  gifts ; 
Our  Gen'ral,  as  his  a£Uons  fhow, 
Gain'd  like  affillance  from  below. 
By  Satan  graced  with  full  fupplies,         . 
From  all  his  magazine  of  lies. 
Yet  could  his  pradlice  ne'er  impart 
The  wit  to  tell  a  lie  with  art. 
Thofe  lies  alone  are  formidable. 
Where  artful  truth  is  mixt  with  fable ; 
But  Gage  has  bungled  oft  fo  vilely. 
No  foul  would  credit  lies  fo  filly. 
Outwent  all  faith  and  ftretch'd  beyond 
Credulity's  extremeft  end. 


Whence 


Mf: 


i 


30 


M'FlNGAZ.. 


Whence  plain  it  feems  tho*  Satan  once 
O*erlook*d  with  fcorn  each  brainlefs  dunce. 
And  blund*ring  brutes  in  Eden  fliunning, 
Chofe  out  the  ferpent  for  his  cunning^*; 
Of  late  he  is  not  half  fo  nice. 
Nor  picks  affiftants,  *caufe  they're  wife. 
For  had  he  flood  upon  perfeftion. 
His  prefent  friends  had  loft  th'  eleftion. 
And  far*d  as  hard  in  this  proceeding. 
As  owls  and  afles  did  in  Eden. 

Yet  fools  are  often  dang'rous  enemies, 
As  meaneft  reptiles  are  moft  venomous ; 
Nor  e*er  could  Gage  by  craft  and  prowels 
Have  done  a  whit  more  mifchief  to  us : 
Since  he  began  th*  unnatural  war. 
The  work  his  matters  fent  him  for. 

And  are  there  in  this  freeborn  land 
Among  ourfelves  a  venal  band, 
A  daftard  race,  who  long  have  fold 
Their  fouls  and  confciences  for  gold ; 


[canto 


m 


1 
1 


} 


Who 


<i 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,  a.m.      31 


Who  wilh  to  ftab  their  country's  vitals. 
If  they  might  heir  furviving  titles ; 
With  joy  behold  our  mifchiefs  brewing, 
Infult  and  triumph  in  our  ruin  ? 
Priefts  who,  if  Satan  fhould  fit  down. 
To  make  a  Bible  of  his  own. 
Would  gladly  for  the  fake  of  mitres. 
Turn  his  infpir*d  and  facred  writers ; 
Lawyers,  who  fhould  he  wifh  to  prove 
His  title  t'  his  old  feat  above. 
Would,  if  his  caufe  he'd  give  'em  fees  in. 
Bring  writs  of  Entry  fur  difTeifin®', 
Plead  for  him  boldly  at  the  feflion. 
And  hope  to  put  him  in  poffeffion ; 
Merchants  who,  for  his  kindly  aid. 
Would  make  him  partners  in  their  trade. 
Hang  out  their  figns  in  goodly  fhow, 
Infcrib'd  with  *  Beelzebub  and  Co.* 
And  Judges,  who  would  lift  his  pages. 
For  proper  liveries  and  wages ; 
And  who  as  humbly  cringe  and  bow 
To  all  his  mortal  fervants  now  ? 


There 


Ill 


lyi) 


f» 


M'FlNGAL  : 


[canto 


>  lli' 


I 


!  \ 


(i 


t  I 


'^ 


There  are ;  and  fhame  with  pointing  geftures, 
Marb  out  th*  Addreflers  and  Protefters^; 
Whom,  following  down  the  ftream  of  fate. 
Contempts  ineffable  await. 
And  public  infamy  forlorn. 
Dread  hate  and  everlafting  fcom." 

As  thus  he  fpake,  our  *Squire  M'Fingal 
Gave  to  his  partizans  a  iignal. 
Not  quicker  rolled  the  waves  to  land. 
When  Mofes  wav*d  his  potent  wand. 
Nor  with  more  uproar,  than  the  Tories 
Set  up  a  gen'ral  rout  in  chorus ; 
Laugh*d,  hifsM,  hem*d,  murmured,  groan'd  and  jeer*d; 
Honorius  now  could  fcarce  be  heard. 
Our  Mufe  amid  th*  increafing  roar. 
Could  not  diftinguilh  one  word  more : 
Tho*  Ihe  fat  by,  in  firm  record 
To  take  in  fhorthand  ev*ry  word ; 
As  antient  Muses  wont,  to  whom 
Old  Bards  for  depofitions  come ; 
Who  muft  have  writ  'em ;  for  how  elfe 
Could  they  each  ipeech  verbatim  tell 's  ? 

And 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       33 


And  tho*  fome  readers  of  romances 

Arc  apt  to  ftrain  their  tortur*d  fancies. 

And  doubt,  when  lovers  all  alone 

Their  fad  foliloquies  do  groan. 

Grieve  many  a  page  with  no  one  near  *em. 

And  nought  but  rocks  and  groves  to  hear  *cm. 

What  fpright  infernal  could  have  tattled. 

And  told  the  authors  all  they  prattled ; 

Whence  fome  weak  minds  have  made  obje£lion« 

That  what  they  fcribbled  muft  be  fidlion : 

'Tis  falfe ;  for  while  the  lovers  fpoke. 

The  Mufe  was  by,  with  table-book. 

And  leaft  fome  blunder  might  enfue. 

Echo  flood  clerk  and  kept  the  cue. 

And  tho*  the  fpeech  ben't  worth  a  groat. 

As  ufual,  'tisn't  the  author's  fault. 

But  error  merely  of  the  prater. 

Who  Ihould  have  talk*d  to  th'  purpofe  better : 

Which  full  excufe,  my  critic-brothers. 

May  help  me  out,  as  well  as  others ; 

And  'tis  defign'd,  tho'  here  it  lurk. 

To  ferve  as  preface  to  this  work. 


So 


r  SI . 


I 


•'  ( 


p'l 


i 


I  ,i 


34 


M'Finoal: 


[canto 


So  let  it  be — for  now  our  'Squire 
No  longer  could  contain  his  ire ; 
And  rifing  'midft  applauding  Tories, 
Thus  vented  wrath  upon  Honorius. 

Quoth  he,  '**Tis  wondrous  what  ftrange  (luff 
Your  Whig's-heads  are  compounded  of; 
Which  force  of  logic  cannot  pierce. 
Nor  fyllogiftic  carte  &  tierce, 
Nor  weight  of  fcripture  or  of  reafbn 
Suffice  to  make  the  lead  imprcfTion. 
Not  heeding  what  ye  raiPd  conteft  on. 
Ye  prate,  and  beg  or  fteal  the  qucftion ; 
And  when  your  boallcd  arguings  fail. 
Strait  leave  all  reaPning  off,  to  rail. 
Have  not  our  High-Church  Clergy"  made  it 
Appear  from  fcriptures  which  ye  credit. 
That  right  divine  from  heav*n  was  lent 
To  kings,  that  is  the  Parliament, 
Their  fubjefts  to  opprefs  and  teaze. 
And  ferve  the  Devil  when  they  pleafe? 
Did  they  not  write  and  pray  and  preach. 
And  torture  all  the  parts  of  Ipeech, 

About 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meetino,   a.  m, 


35 


About  Rebellion  make  a  pother. 
From  one  end  of  the  land  to  th*  other  ? 
And  /et  gained  fewer  proPlyte  Whigs, 
Than  old  St.  Anth'ny  *mongft  the  pigs ; 
And  changed  not  half  fo  many  vicious 
As  Auftin,  when  he  preach'd  to  fifties ; 
Who  throng'd  to  hear,  the  legend  tells. 
Were  edified  and  wagg*d  their  tails*': 
But  fcarce  you'd  prove  it,  if  you  tried. 
That  e'er  one  Whig  was  edified. 
Have  ye  not  heard  from  Parfon  Walter®'' 
Much  dire  prefage  of  many  a  halter  ? 
What  warnings  had  ye  of  your  duty 
From  our  old  Rev'rend  Sam.  Auchmuty^? 
From  Priefts  of  all  degrees  and  metres, 
T*  our  fag-end  man  poor  Parfon  Peters^? 
Have  not  our  Cooper  ^^  and  our  Seabury^ 
Sung  hymns,  like  Barak  and  old  Deborah®^; 
Prov*d  all  intrigues  to  fet  you  free 
Rebellion  *gainfl:  the  pow'rs  that  be ; 
Brought  over  many  a  fcripture  text 
That  ufed  co  wink  at  rebel  feds. 


Coax'd 


,' 


36 


M'Fingal: 


[canto 


fi.' 


J '7 


't  I 


ill 

Ml 


N     lis 


Coax'd  wayward  ones  to  favour  regents. 
Or  paraphraPd  them  to  obedience  j 
Prov'd  ev'ry  king,  ev'n  thofe  confeft 
Horns  of  th'  Apocalyptic  beaft®'. 
And  fprouting  from  its  noddles  feven, 
Ordain*d,  as  bifliops  are,  by  heav'n ; 
(For  reafons  lim*lar,  as  we*re  told 
That  Tophet  was  ordain'd  of  old) 
By  this  lay-ordination  valid 
Becomes  all  fan6tiiied  and  hallowed. 
Takes  patent  out  when  heav'n  has  fign*d  it. 
And  ftarts  up  ftrait,  the  Lord's  anointed  ? 
L'ke  extreme  undlion  that  can  cleanfe 
Each  penitent  from  deadly  fins. 
Make  them  run  glib,  when  oil'd  by  Prieft, 
The  heav'nly  road,  like  wheels  new  greaPd, 
Serve  them,  like  fhoeball*'^,  for  defences 
'Gainft  wear  and  tear  of  confciences : 
So  king's  anointment  cleans  betimes. 
Like  fuller's  earth ^^,  all  ipots  of  crimes. 
For  future  knav'rics  gives  commiffions. 
Like  Papifts  finning  under  licence^'. 


For 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       3; 


For  heav'n  ordain*d  the  origin. 

Divines  declare,  of  pain  and  fin ; 

Prove  fuch  great  good  they  both  have  done  us. 

Kind  mercy  'twas  they  came  upon  us : 

For  without  pain  and  fin  and  folly 

Man  ne*er  were  bleft,  or  wife,  or  holy ; 

And  we  fhould  thank  the  Lord,  'tis  fo. 

As  authors  grave  wrote  long  ago. 

Now  heav'n  its  iflues  never  brings 

Without  the  means,  and  thefe  are  kings ; 

And  he,  who  blames  when  they  announce  ills. 

Would  counteraft  th*  eternal  counfels. 

As  when  the  Jews,  a  murm'ring  race. 

By  conftant  grumblings  fell  from  grace, 

Heav'n  taught  them  firft  to  know  their  diftance. 

By  famine,  flav'ry  and  Philiftines ; 

When  thefe  could  no  repentance  bring. 

In  wrath  it  fent  them  laft  a  king^: 

So  nineteen,  'tis  believ'd,  in  twenty 

Of  modern  kings  for  plagues  are  fent  you ; 

Nor  can  your  cavillers  pretend. 

But  that  they  anfwer  well  their  end. 


'Tis 


38 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


I,  I 


t  \ 


V, 


'Tis  yours  to  yield  to  their  command. 
As  rods  in  Providence's  hand ; 
And  if  it  means  to  fend  you  pain. 
You  turn  your  nofes  up  in  vain ; 
Your  only  way's  in  peace  to  bear  it. 
And  make  neceffity  a  merit. 
Hence  fure  perdition  muft  await 
The  man,  who  rifes  *gainft  the  ftate. 
Who  meets  at  once  the  damning  lentence. 
Without  one  loophole  for  repentance ; 
E*en  tho*  he  *gain  the  royal  fee. 
And  rank  among  the  pow'rs  that  be®': 
For  hell  is  theirs,  the  fcripture  Ihows, 
Whoe'er  the  pow'rs  that  be  oppofe. 
And  all  thofe  pow'rs  (I  am  clear  that  'tis  fb) 
Are  danm'd  for  ever,  ex  officio. 

Thus  far  our  Clergy ;  but  'tis  true. 

We  lack'd  not  earthly  reaf'ners  too. 

Had  I  the  Poet's  brazen  lungs  ^ 

As  found-board  to  his  hundred  tongues, 

I  could  not  half  the  fcriblers  mufter 

That  fwarm'd  round  Rivington®^  in  duller; 

Aflemblies, 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       39 


Aflcmblies,  Councilmen,  forfooth; 

Brufh™,  Cooper'^  Wilkins'^  Chandler",  Booth'*. 

Yet  all  their  arguments  and  fap*ence. 

You  did  not  value  at  three  halfpence. 

Did  not  our  Maflachufettenfis'* 

For  your  convi6lion  ftrain  his  fenfes  ? 

Scrawl  cv*ry  moment  he  could  fpare. 

From  cards  and  barbers  and  the  fair ; 

Show,  clear  as  fun  in  noonday  heavens. 

You  did  not  feel  a  fingle  grievance ; 

Demonftrate  all  your  oppofition 

Sprung  from  the  eggs  of  foul  fedition ; 

Swear  he  had  feen  the  nell  fhe  laid  in. 

And  knew  how  long  fhe  had  been  fitting ; 

Could  tell  exaft  what  ftrength  of  heat  is 

Required  to  hatch  her  out  Committees"'^; 

What  fhapes  they  take,  and  how  much  longer's 

The  fpace  before  they  grow  t'  a  Congrefs  ? 

New  whitewalh*d  Hutchinfon"  and  varnifh*d. 

Our  Gage,  who*d  got  a  little  tarnifli'd. 

Made  *em  new  mafks,  in  time  no  doubt. 

For  Hutchinfon's  was  quite  worn  out ; 


And 


if     < 


I'll 


'^.1 


I 


p 


M, 


•'■11    1  ^  i 

i<  ; 


1: 


.1 


40 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


And  while  he  muddled  all  his  head 

You  did  not  heed  a  word  he  faid. 

Did  not  our  grave  Judge  Sewall''^  hit 

The  fununit  of  news-paper  wit  ? 

Fiird  ev*ry  leaf  ot  ev*ry  paper 

Of  Mills  and  Hicks'^  and  mother  Draper*; 

Drew  proclamations,  works  of  toil. 

In  true  fublime  of  fcarecrow  flyle ; 

Wrote  farces  too,  *gainft  Sons  of  Freedom  ^^ 

All  for  your  good,  and  none  would  read  *em ; 

Denounc'd  danmation  on  their  frenzy. 

Who  died  in  Whig-impenitency ; 

Affirmed  that  heav'n  would  lend  us  aid. 

As  all  our  Tory-writers  faid. 

And  calculated  fo  its  kindnefs. 

He  told  the  moment  when  it  join'd  us." 

"  'Twas  then  belike,  Honorius  cried. 
When  you  the  public  fail  defied^, 
RefuPd  to  heav'n  to  raife  a  prayer, 
Becaufe  you'd  no  connexions  there; 
And  fince  with  rev'rent  hearts  and  faces 
To  Governors  you'd  make  addrefles. 


In 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,  a.  m.      41 

In  them,  who  made  you  Tories,  feeing 
You  lived  and  mov'd  and  had  your  being ; 
Your  humble  vows  you  would  not  breathe 
To  powers  you*d  no  acquaintance  with." 


€€ 


As  for  your  fafts,  replied  our  *Squire, 
•What  circumftance  could  fafts  require; 
We  kept  them  not,  but  'twas  no  crime ; 
We  held  them  merely  lofs  of  time. 
For  what  advantage  firm  and  lafting. 
Pray  did  you  ever  get  by  fafting  ? 
And  what  the  gains  that  can  arife 
From  vows  and  offerings  to  the  fkies  ? 
Will  heav'n  reward  with  pofts  and  fees. 
Or  fend  us  Tea,  as  Confignees^, 
Give  penlions,  fal'ries,  places,  bribes. 
Or  chufe  us  judges,  clerks,  or  fcribes  ? 
Has  it  commifHons  in  its  gift. 
Or  calh,  to  ferve  us  at  a  lift  ? 
Are  afts  of  parliament  there  made. 
To  carry  on  the  placeman's  trade  ? 
Or  has  it  pafs'd  a  iingle  bill 
To  let  us  plunder  whom  we  will  ? 


And 


I' 

-  M 


!    I 


I*. 


•t 


42 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


And  look  our  lift  of  placemen  all  over ; 

Did  hcav'n  appoint  our  chief  judge,  Oliver^, 

Fill  that  high  bench  with  ignoramus. 

Or  has  it  councils  by  mandamus*^? 

Who  made  that  wit  of  water-gruel^, 

A  Judge  of  Admiralty,  Sewall  ? 

And  were  they  not  mere  earthly  ftruggles. 

That  raird  up  Murray^,  fay,  and  Ruggles^? 

Did  heav*n  fend  down,  our  pains  to  medicine. 

That  old  fimplicity  of  E  Con'', 

Or  by  ele£lion  pick  out  from  us. 

That  Marfhfield  blunderer  Nat.  Ray  Thomas^; 

Or  had  it  any  hand  in  ferving 

A  Loring»\  Pepp'rell^  Browne^,  or  Erving^  ? 

Yet  weVe  fome  faints,  the  very  thing. 
We'll  pit  againft  the  beft  you'll  bring 
For  can  the  ftrongeft  fancy  paint 
Than  Hutchinfon  a  greater  faint  ? 
Was  there  a  parfon  ufed  to  pray 
At  times  more  reg'lar  twice  a  day  ; 
As  folks  exa6l  have  dinners  got. 
Whether  they've  appetites  or  not  ? 


Was 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,  a.m.     43 

Was  there  a  zealot  more  alarming 

'Gainft  public  vice  to  hold  forth  fermon. 

Or  fix*d  at  church,  whofe  inward  motion 

Roll*d  up  his  eyes  with  more  devotion  ? 

What  Puritan^  could  ever  pray 

In  Godlier  tone,  than  treaPrer  Gray*^, 

Or  at  town-meetings  fpeechify'ng. 

Could  litter  more  melodious  whine. 

And  fhut  his  eyes  and  vent  his  moan. 

Like  owl  afflifted  in  the  fun  ? 

Who  once  fent  home  his  canting  rival. 

Lord  Dartmouth's^'  felf,  might  outbedrivel.** 


tt 


Have  you  forgot,  Honorius  cried. 
How  your  prime  faint  the  truth  defied, 
Affirm*d  he  never  wrote  a  line 
Your  chartered  rights  to  undermine ; 
When  his  own  letters  then  were  by. 
That  prov'd  his  meffage  all  a  lie  ^? 
How  many  promifes  he  feaPd, 
To  get  th*  oppreffive  a6ts  repeal'd. 
Yet  on6e  arriv'd  on  England's  fhorc. 
Set  on  the  Premier  to  pafs  more**? 


But 


fui 


i 


'  1!. 

fi 


Hi 


«{: 


I 


^ 


44 


M'FlNGAL. 


[canto 


But  these  are  no  defefts,  we  grant. 
In  a  right  loyal  Tory  faint,  • 

Whofe  godlike  virtues  muft  with  eafe 
Atone  fuch  venal  crimes  as  thefe : 
Or  ye  perhaps  in  fcripture  fpy 
A  new  commandment,  '  Thou  Ihalt  lie ;  * 
And  if  *t  be  fo  (as  who  can  tell  ?) 
There's  no  one  fure  ye  keep  fo  well/* 

"  Quoth  he.  For  lies  and  promife-breaking 
Ye  need  not  be  in  fuch  a  taking ; 
For  lying  is,  we  know  and  teach. 
The  higheft  privilege  of  fpeech ; 
The  universal  Magna  Charta, 
To  which  all  human  race  is  party. 
Whence  children  firft,  as  David  fays. 
Lay  claim  to  *t  in  their  earlieft  days ; 
The  only  ftratagem  in  war. 
Our  Gen'rals  have  occalion  for  ;  ' 

The  only  freedom  of  the  prefs 
Our  politicians  need  in  peace : 
And  *tis  a  Ihame  you  wilh  t*  abridge  us 
Of  thefe  our  darling  privileges. 


Thank 


nRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,  a.m.    45 

Thank  heav*n,  your  Ihot  have  mifs*d  their  aim. 
For  lying  is  no  fin,  or  ihame. 

As  men  laft  wills  may  change  again, 

Tho'  drawn  in  name  of  God,  amen  ; 

Befure  they  muft  have  much  the  more, 

0*er  promifes  as  great  a  pow'r. 

Which  made  in  hafte,  with  fmall  infpedlion. 

So  mach  the  more  will  need  correftion ; 

And  when  theyVe  carelefs  fpoke,  or  penn'd  em. 

Have  right  to  look  *em  o*er  and  mend  *em ; 

Revife  their  vows,  or  change  the  text. 

By  way  of  codicil  annexed. 

Turn  out  a  promife,  that  was  bafe. 

And  put  a  better  in  its  place. 

So  Gage  of  late  agreed,  you  know. 

To  let  the  Boflon  people  go  ; 

Yet  when  he  faw  *gainft  troops  that  brav*d  him. 

They  were  the  only  guards  that  fav'd  him^°", 

Kept  off  that  Satan  of  a  Putnam, 

From  breaking  in  to  maul  and  mutt'n  him^"^; 

He*d  too  much  wit  fuch  leagues  t*  obferve. 

And  ihut  them  in  again  to  ftarve. 

So 


/' 


M 


46 


M'FlNGAL. 


[canto 


So  Moles  writes,  when  female  Jews 
Made  oaths  and  vows  unfit  for  ufe. 
Their  parents  then  might  fet  them  free 
From  that  confcientious  tyranny  ^^  : 
And  fhall  men  feel  that  fpir'tual  bondage 
Forever,  when  they  grow  beyond  age  ; 
Nor  have  pow'r  their  own  oaths  to  change  ? 
I  think  the  tale  were  very  ftrange. 
Shall  vows  but  bind  the  ftout  and  ftrong. 
And  let  go  women  weak  and  young. 
As  nets  enclofe  the  larger  crew. 
And  let  the  fmaller  fry  creep  thro'  ? 
Befides,  the  Whigs  have  all  been  fet  on. 
The  Tories  to  affright  and  threaten. 
Till  Gage  amidft  his  trembling  fits 
Has  hardly  kept  him  in  his  wits ; 
And  tho*  he  fpeak  with  art  and  finefle, 
'Tis  faid  beneath  durefs  per  minas. 
For  we're  in  peril  of  our  fouls 
From  feathers,  tar  and  lib'rty-poles^^^ : 
And  vows  extorted  are  not  binding 
In  law,  and  fo  not  worth  the  minding. 


For 


FIRST.]  The  Town-Meeting,   a.  m.       47 

For  we  have  in  this  hurly-burly 

Sent  off  our  confciences  on  furlow,  .. 

Thrown  our  religion  o*er  in  foi  m ; 

Our  ihip  to  lighten  in  the  Ilorm. 

Nor  need  we  blufh  your  Whigs  before; 

If  weVe  no  virtue  youVe  no  more. 

Yet  black  with  fins,  would  {lain  a  mitre. 
Rail  ye  at  crimes  by  ten  tints  whiter. 
And  ftuff'd  with  choler  atrabilious, 
Infult  us  here  for  peccadilloes  ? 
While  all  your  vices  run  fo  high 
That  mercy  fcarce  could  find  fupply  : 
While  fhould  you  offer  to  repent, 
You*d  need  more  falling  days  than  Lent, 
More  groans  than  haunted  churchyard  vallies. 
And  more  confeffions  than  broad-alleys  ^^. 
Fll  ihow  you  all  at  fitter  time. 
The  extent  and  greatnefs  of  your  crime. 
And  here  demonftrate  to  your  face. 
Your  want  of  virtue,  as  of  grace. 
Evinced  from  topics  old  and  recent : 
But  thus  much  muft  lufHce  at  prefent. 

To 


h> 


- 


r 


I- 


'I 
I 

il 

'i 
1^1 


I'll 


li'i 


48 


M'FiNOAL : 


To  th'  after-portion  of  the  day, 
I  leave  what  more  remains  to  fay ; 
When  I've  good  hope  you'll  all  appear. 
More  fitted  and  prepared  to  hear. 
And  griev'd  for  all  your  vile  demeanour 
But  now  'tis  time  t*  adjou>  ,1  for  dinner,** 


[canto 


i  "^ 


»•••  -Jdltt-  iiijjCJt'-  — 4CS-  ••tfX*-  "^KAi-  "JKC-  •••JKC-.-flC 


M*FINGAL  : 


CANTO       SECOND 


OR 


The  town-meeting,  P.  M. 


'T^HE  Sun,  who  never  Hops  to  dine. 

Two  hours  had  pafs'd  the  midway  line. 
And  driving  at  his  ufual  rate, 
Lafh'd  on  his  downward  car  of  ilate. 
And  now  expired  the  ftiort  vacation. 
And  dinner  done  in  epic  fafhion ; 
While  all  the  crew  beneath  the  trees. 
Eat  pocket-pies,  or  bread  and  cheefe ;  -  v 

Nor  Ihall  we,  like  old  Homer  care 
To  verfify  their  bill  of  fare. 
For  now  each  party,  feafted  well. 
Thronged  in,  like  Iheep,  at  found  of  bell. 


With 


A 


lU' 


m 


!? 


,1     I 


i 


I 


!!     I 


50^ 


M'FlNGAL : 


With  equal  fpirit  took  their  places ; 
And  meeting  oped  with  three  Oh  yefles  * : 
When  firft  the  daring  Whigs 't  oppofe. 
Again  the  great  M'Fingal  rofe, 
Stretch'd  magiflerial  arm  amain^ 
And  thus  aflum'd  th*  accufing  ftram. 


tt 


Ye  Whigs  attend,  and  hear  affrighted 
The  crimes  whereof  ye  ftand  indifted. 
The  fins  and  follies  paft  all  compafs. 
That  prove  you  guilty  or  non  compos. 
I  leave  the  verdift  to  your  fenfes. 
And  jury  of  your  confciences ; 
Which  tho'  they're  neither  good  nor  true, 
Muft  yet  convift  you  and  your  crew. 
Ungrateful  fons !  a  faftious  band. 
That  rife  againft  your  parent-land  ! 
Ye  viper'd  race,  that  burft  in  ftrife. 
The  welcome  womb,  that  gave  you  life. 
Tear  with  fharp  fangs  and  forked  tongue, 
Th*  indulgent  bowels,  whence  you  fprung ; 
And  fcorn  the  debt  of  obligation 
You  jullly  owe  the  Britifh  nation. 


fcANTO 


Which 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,   p.  m.     51 


Which  lince  you  cannot  pay,  your  crew 
Affeft  to  fwear  'twas  never  due. 
Did  not  the  deeds  of  England's  Primate' 
Firft  drive  your  fathers  to  this  climate. 
Whom  jails  and  fines  and  ev*ry  ill 
Forc'd  to  their  good  againft  their  will  ? 
Ye  owe  to  their  obliging  temper 
The  peopling  your  newfangled  empire. 
While  ev*ry  Britilh  aft  and  canon 
Stood  forth  your  caufa  fine  qua  non. 
Did  they  not  fend  you  charters  o*er'. 
And  give  you  lands  you  own*d  before. 
Permit  you  all  to  fpill  your  blood. 
And  drive  out  heathen  where  you  could ; 
On  thefe  mild  terms,  that  conqueft  won. 
The  realm  you  gain*d  fhould  be  their  own. 
Or  when  of  late  attacked  by  thoie. 
Whom  her  connexion  made  your  foes*. 
Did  they  not  then,  diftreft  in  war. 
Send  Gen'rals  to  your  help  from  far', 
Whofe  aid  you  own*d  in  terms  lefs  haughty 
And  thankfully  o'erpaid  your  quota  ? ' 


Say 


i 


'  'J 


■;  i 


f:f{ 


5} 


•■>,    I  ■ 


i:!^ 


52 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


Say,  at  what  period  did  they  grudge 
To  fend  you  Governor  or  Judge, 
With  all  their  miffionary  crew. 
To  teach  you  law  and  goipel  too  ? 
Brought  o*er  all  felons  in  the  nation. 
To  help  you  on  in  population ; 
Proposed  their  Bilhops  to  furrender. 
And  made  their  Priefts  a  legal  tender. 
Who  only  a(k*d  in  furplice  clad. 
The  limple  tythe  of  all  you  had': 
And  now  to  keep  all  knaves  in  awe. 
Have  fent  their  troops  t*  eftablifh  law. 
And  with  gunpowder,  lire  and  ball. 
Reform  your  people  one  and  all. 
Yet  when  their  infblence  and  pride 
Have  anger*d  all  the  world  belide. 
When  fear  and  want  at  once  invade. 
Can  you  refufe  to  lend  them  aid ; 
And  rather  rifque  your  heads  in  fight. 
Than  gratefully  throw  in  your  mite®? 
Can  they  for  debts  make  fatisfaftion. 
Should  they  dilpofe  their  realm  by  auftion ; 


\\ 


And 


^  , 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  p.m.     53 


And  fell  ofF  Britain's  goods  and  land  al| 

To  France  and  Spain  by  inch  of  candle  ? 

Shall  good  king  George,  with  want  oppreft, 

Infert  his  name  in  bankrupt  lift. 

And  fhut  up  (hop,  like  failing  merchant. 

That  fears  the  bailiffs  fliould  make  fearch  in*t ; 

With  poverty  fhall  princes  ftrive. 

And  nobles  lack  whereon  to  live  ? 

Have  they  not  rack'd  their  whole  inventions. 

To  feed  their  brats  on  polls  and  penflons*. 

Made  ev'n  Scotch  friends  with  taxes  groan. 

And  picked  poor  Ireland  to  the  bone ; 

Yet  have  on  hand  as  well  deferving. 

Ten  thousand  baftards  left  for  ftarving  ? 

And  can  you  now  with  confcience  clear, 

Refufe  them  an  afylum  here. 

Or  not  maintain  in  manner  fitting 

These  genuine  fons  of  mother  Britain  "  ? 

T'  evade  thefe  crimes  of  blackeft  grain. 

You  prate  of  liberty  in  vain. 

And,  ftrive  to  hide  your  vile  defigns. 

With  terms  abftrufe  like  fchool-divines. 


/' 


Your 


m 


iff 


ft): 


' 

?-'! 


ll.ll! 


54 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


Your  boafled  patriotifin  is  fcarce. 
And  country's  love  is  but  a  farce ; 
And  after  all  the  proofs  you  bring. 
We  Tories  know  there's  no  fuch  thing. 
Our  Englilh  writers  of  great  fame 
Prove  public  virtue  but  a  name. 
Hath  not  Dalrymple  "  Ihow'd  in  print. 
And  Johnfon  "  too,  there's  nothing  in't  ? 
Produc'd  you  demonftration  ample 
From  other's  and  their  own  example. 
That  felf  is  ftill,  in  either  faftion. 
The  only  principle  of  adlion ; 
The  loadftone,  whofe  attradling  tether 
Keeps  the  politic  world  together : 
And  fpite  of  all  your  double-dealing. 
We  Tories  know  'tis  fo,  by  feeling. 

Who  heeds  your  babbling  of  tranfmitting 
Freedom  to  brats  of  your  begetting. 
Or  will  proceed  as  though  there  were  a  tie. 
Or  obligation  to  pofterity'^? 
We  get  *em,  bear  'em,  breed  and  nurfe ; 
What  has  pofter'ty  done  for  us. 


That 


CANTO 


That 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,   p.  m.     55 

That  we,  left  they  their  rights  fliould  lofe. 
Should  truft  our  necks  to  gripe  of  noofe  ? 

And  who  believes  you  will  not  run  ? 

You're  cowards,  ev*ry  mother's  fon ; 

And  Ihould  you  offer  to  deny, 

WeVe  witnefles  to  prove  it  by. 

Attend  th'  opinion  firft,  as  referee. 

Of  your  old  Gen'ral,  ftout  Sir  Jeffery", 

Who  fwore  that  with  five  thoufand  foot 

He*d  rout  you  all,  and  in  purfuit. 

Run  thro*  the  land  as  eafily. 

As  camel  thro*  a  needle*s  eye  ". 

Did  not  the  valiant  Col*nel  Grant 

Againft  your  courage  make  his  flant. 

Affirm  your  univerfal  failure 

In  ev*ry  principle  of  valour. 

And  fwear  no  fcamp*rers  e*er  could  match  you. 

So  fwift,  a  bullet  fcarce  could  catch  you"? 

And  will  ye  not  confefs  in  this, 

A  judge  moft  competent  he  is. 

Well  fkill*d  on  runnings  to  decide. 

As  what  himfelf  has  often  tried  ? 

'Twould 


^' 


l« 


M'FlNOAL. 


[canto 


r 


,  'I 


iliii 


■•1 ' 


t 


!  Jt 


'\\ 


I: 


ii 


!      'i 


.1 


II  i 


Twould  not  methinks  be  labour  loft. 
If  you*d  fit  down  and  count  the  coft ; 
And  ere  you  call  your  Yankies  out, 
Firft  think  what  work  youVe  fet  about. 
Have  ye  not  rouz*d,  his  force  to  try  on. 
That  grim  old  beaft,  the  Britilh  lion? 
And  know  you  not  that  at  a  fup 
He's  large  enough  to  eat  you  up  ? 
Have  you  furvey'd  his  jaws  beneath. 
Drawn  inventories  of  his  teeth. 
Or  have  you  weigh'd  in  even  balance. 
His  ftrength  and  magnitude  of  talons  ? 
His  roar  would  turn  your  boafts  to  fear. 
As  eafily  as  four  foiall-beer", 
And  make  your  feet  from  dreadful  fray. 
By  native  inftind  run  away. 
Britain,  depend  on't  will  take  on  her 
T'  aflert  her  dignity  and  honor. 
And  ere  fhe'd  lofe  your  fhare  of  pelf, 
Deftroy  your  country  and  herfelf. 
For  has  not  North  declared  they  fight 
To  gain  fubftantial  rev'nue  by't^% 


Denied 


h     ,, 


■i   '! 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  P.M.    57 


Denied  he'd  ever  deign  to  treat, 
Till  on  your  knees  and  at  his  feet  ? 
And  feel  you  not  a  trifling  ague. 
From  Van's  Delenda  eft  Carthago'®? 
For  this,  now  Britain  has  come  to*t. 
Think  you  fhe  has  not  means  to  do*t  ? 
Has  (he  not  fet  to  work  all  engines 
To  fpirit  up  the  native  Indians, 
Send  on  youi  oacks  a  favage  band. 
With  each  a  hatchet  in  his  hand, 
T'  amufe  themfelves  with  fcalping  knives. 
And  butcher  children  and  your  wives'*'; 
That  fhe  may  boaft  again  with  vanity. 
Her  Englilh  national  humanity  ? 
(For  now  in  its  primaeval  fenfe. 
This  term,  human'ty,  comprehends 
All  things  of  which,  on  this  fide  hell. 
The  human  mind  is  capable ; 
And  thus  'fis  well,  by  writers  fage. 
Applied  to  Britain  and  to  Gage.) 
And  on  this  work  to  raife  allies. 
She  fent  hei  duplicate  of  Guys, 


\[ 


m\ 


To 


S8 


M'FlNGAL : 


[CANTG 


8!  i  n 


To  drive,  at  diflf'rent  parts  at  once,  on 
Her  flout  Guy  Carlton  and  Guy  Johnfon"; 
To  each  of  whom,  to  fend  again  ye 
Old  Guy  of  Warwick  were  a  ninny '^'. 
Tho*  the  dun  cow  he  fell*d  in  war, 
Thefe  killcows.are  his  betters  far'^^ 

And  has  Ihe  not  aflay'd  her  notes. 
To  rouze  your  flaves  to  cut  your  throats. 
Sent  o'er  ambafTadors  with  guineas. 
To  bribe  your  blacks  in  Carolinas'^^? 
And  has  not  Gage,  her  miffionary 
Turn'd  many  an  Afric  flave  t*  a  Tory, 
And  made  th*  American  bilhop*s  fee  grow. 
By  many  a  new-converted  Negro  ^*? 
As  friends  to  government  did  not  he 
Their  flaves  at  Bofton  late  set  free ; 
Enlifl  them  all  in  black  parade. 
Set  off  with  regimental  red  ^^? 
And  were  they  not  accounted  then 
Among  his  very  braveft  men  ? 
And  when  fuch  means  flie  ftoops  to  take. 
Think  you  flie  is  not  wide  awake  ? 


A» 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,    p.  m.     59 

As  Eliphaz*  good  man  in  Job 

Own'd  num*rous  allies  thro'  the  globe ; 

Had  brought  the  ftones  along  the  ftreet 

To  ratify  a  cov*nant  meet. 

And  ev*ry  beaft  from  lice  to  lions. 

To  join  in  leagues  of  ftrift  alliance": 

Has  (he  not  cring*d,  in  fpite  of  pride. 

For  like  affistance  far  and  wide  f 

Was  there  a  creature  fo  defpiPd, 

Its  aid  fhe  has  not  fought  and  priz*d  ? 

Till  all  this  formidable  league  rofe 

Of  Indians,  Britifh  troops  and  Negroes '^^ 

And  can  you  break  thefe  triple  bands 

By  all  your  workmanfhip  of  hands  ?  ** 


« 


Sir,  quoth  Honorius,  we  prefume 
You  guefs  from  paft  feats,  what's  to  come. 
And  from  the  mighty  deeds  of  Gage, 
Foretell  how  fierce  the  war  he'll  wage. 
You  doubtlefs  recoUefted  here 
The  annals  of  his  firft  great  year : 
While  wearying  out  the  Tories*  patience. 
He  fpent  his  breath  in  proclamations ; 


While 


0 


tM 


V 


ll!  V 


Ml  1 


mi 


1 1 

i  i 

I 
i 
I 

11)1' 

ll    '- 


6o 


M'FiNo  al: 


[canto 


While  all  his  mighty  noife  and  vapour 

Was  ufed  in  wrangling  upon  paper ; 

And  boafted  military  fits 

Clofed  in  the  draining  of  his  wits ; 

While  troops  in  Bollon  commons  plac*d  *• 

I^aid  nought  but  quires  of  paper  wafte ; 

While  ftrokes  alternate  ftunn'd  the  nation, 

Proteft^  addrefs  and  proclamation ; 

And  {peech  met  fpeech,  fib  clafh'd  with  fib. 

And  Gage  flill  anfwer'd,  fquib  for  fquib. 

Tho'  this  not  all  his  time  was  loft  on ; 
He  fortified  the  town  of  Bofton ; 
Built  breaftworks  that  might  lend  afliftance 
To  keep  the  patriots  at  a  diftance'®; 
(For  howfoe'er  the  rogues  might  feoff. 
He  liked  them  beft  the  fartheft  off) 
Of  mighty  ufe  and  help  to  aid 
His  courage,  when  he  felt  afraid ; 
And  whence  right  off  in  manful  ftation. 
He'd  boldly  pop  his  proclamation. 
Our  hearts  muft  in  our  bofoms  freeze 
At  fuch  heroic  deeds  as  thefe." 


€€ 


Vain 


!■(■ 


SECOND.]  The   Town-Meeting,   p.m.     6i 


it 


Vain,"  quoth  the  'Squire,  "you'll  find  to  fnccr 


At  Gage's  firft  triumphant  year 

For  Providence,  difpo 

Can  ufe  what  inftruments  it  pleafes. 


to  teaze  us. 


To 


pay 


a  tax  at  Peter's  wifti. 


Fifh' 


His  chief  cafliier  was  once  a 
An  Afs,  in  Balaam's  fad  difafter, 
Turn'd  orator  and  fav'd  his  mafter^'; 
A  Goofe  plac'd  centry  on  his  ftation 
Preferv'd  old  Rome  from  defolation'^; 
An  Englilh  Biftiop's  Cur  of  late 
Difclofed  rebellions  'gainft  the  ftate^*; 
So  Frogs  croak'd  Pharaoh  to  repentance. 
And  Lice  revers'd  the  threat'ning  fentence^'i 
And  heav'n  can  ruin  you  at  pleafure. 
By  our  fcorn'd  Gage,  as  well  as  Caefar. 
Yet  did  our  hero  in  thefe  days 
Pick  up  fome  laurel  wreaths  of  praife. 
And  as  the  ftatuary  of  Seville 
Made  his  crackt  faint  an  exc'Uent  devil ; 
So  tho'  our  war  few  triumphs  brings. 
We  gain'd  great  fame  in  other  things. 


Did 


;i 


'I 


!  :|     P 


62 


M'FlNQAL : 


Did  not  our  troops  fhow  much  difccrning. 
And  fkill  your  various  arts  in  learning  ? 
Outwent  they  not  each  native  Noodle  ** 
By  far  in  playing  Yanky-doodlc  ; 
Which,  as  'twas  your  New-England  tune, 
*Twas  marvellous  they  took  fo  foon"? 
And  ere  the  year  was  fully  thro*. 
Did  not  they  learn  to  foot  it  too ; 
And  fuch  a  dance  as  ne*cr  was  known. 
For  twenty  miles  on  end  lead  down  ? 
Was  there  a  Yanky  trick  you  knew. 
They  did  not  play  as  well  as  you  ? 
Did  they  not  lay  their  heads  together. 
And  gain  your  art  to  tar  and  feather. 
When  Col'nel  Nefbitt  thro*  the  town. 
In  triumph  bore  the  country-clown  ? 
Oh,  what  a  glorious  work  to  fing 
The  vet*ran  troops  of  Britain's  king. 
Adventuring  for  th*  heroic  laurel. 
With  bag  of  feathers  and  tar-barrel  I 
To  paint  the  cart  where  culprits  ride. 
And  Nefbitt  marching  at  its  fide. 


[canto 


Great 


J: 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  p.  m.      63 

Great  executioner  and  proud. 
Like  hangman  high  on  Holbourn  road ; 
And  o'er  the  bright  triumphal  car 
The  waving  eniigns  of  the  war"^! 
As  when  a  triumph  Rome  decreed. 
For  great  CaligMa's  valiant  deed. 
Who  had  fubdued  the  Britifh  fcas. 
By  gathering  cockles  from  their  bafe'"; 
In  pompous  car  the  conqu'ror  bore 
His  captiv'd  fcallops  from  the  fhore. 
Ovations  gain'd  his  crabs  for  fetching. 
And  mighty  feats  of  oyfter-catching ; 
0*er  Yankies  thus  the  war  begun. 
They  tarr'd  and  triumphed  over  one ; 
And  fought  and  boafted  thro*  the  feafon. 
With  might  as  great,  and  equal  reafon. 

Yet  thus,  tho'  (kiird  in  vi6l*r>  ;.    uils. 

They  boaft,  not  unexpert,  in  wiles. 

For  gain*d  they  not  an  eqT.il  fame  in 

The  arts  of  fecrecy  and  fcheming  ? 

In  Ilratagems  fliow'd  mighty  force. 

And  moderniz*d  the  Trojan  horfe, 

Play'd 


64. 


M'FlNGAL 


[canto 


K 


i<i  't 


f 


'it 
1 1 


Play'd  o'er  again  thofe  tricks  UlylTean, 
In  their  fam*cl  Salem-expedition  ? 
For  as  that  horie,  the  Poets  tell  ye. 
Bore  Grecian  armies  in  his  belly  j 
Till  their  full  reckoning  run,  with  joy 
Their  Sinon  midwiPd  them  in  Troy^: 
So  in  one  Ihip  was  Leslie*^  bold 
Cramm'd  with  three  hundred  men  in  hold. 
Equipped  for  enterprize  and  fail. 
Like  Jonas  ftow'd  in  womb  of  whale. 
To  Marblehead*'^  in  depth  of  night. 
The  cautious  velTel  wing'd  her  flight. 
And  now  the  fabbath*s  filent  day 
Call*d  all  your  Yankies  off  to  pray  ; 
Remov'd  each  prying  jealous  neighbour. 
The  fcheme  and  veffel  fell  in  labour ; 
Forth  from  its  hollow  womb  pour*d  haft'ly 
The  Myrmidons  of  Col*nel  Leflie : 
Not  thicker  o*er  the  blackened  ftrand 
The  frogs'  detachment  rulh'd  to  land. 
Equipped  by  onfet  or  furprize 
To  ftorm  th*  entrenchment  of  the  mice*''. 


Thro' 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  p.  m.     65 

Thro*  Salem  ftrait  without  delay. 
The  bold  battalion  took  its  way, 
March'd  o'er  a  bridge  in  open  light 
Of  fev*ral  Yankies  arm'd  for  fight. 
Then  without  lofs  of  time,  or  men 
Veer*d  round  for  Boflon  back  again ; 
And  found  fo  well  their  proje6ls  thrive. 
That  ev'ry  foul  got  home  alive**. 

Thus  Gage's  arms  did  fortune  blefs 
With  triumph,  fafety  and  fuccess : 
But  mercy  is  without  dilpute 
His  firft  and  darling  attribute ; 
So  great  it  far  outwent  and  conquer'd 
His  military  ikill  at  Concord**. 
There  when  the  war  he  chofe  to  wage 
Shone  the  benevolence  of  Gage ; 
Sent  troops  to  that  ill-omen*d  place 
On  errands  meer  of  fpecial  grace. 
And  all  the  work  he  chole  them  for 
Was  to  prevent  a  civil  war**: 
And  for  that  purpofe  he  projedled 

The  only  certain  way  t*  efFedl  it. 

To 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


IH't 


To  take  your  powder,  ftores  and  arms. 

And  all  your  means  of  doing  harms : 

As  prudent  folks  take  knives  away. 

Left  children  cut  themfelves  at  play. 

And  yet  tho'  this  was  all  his  fcheme. 

This  war  you  ftill  wiU  charge  on  him  ; 

And  tho*  he  oft  has  fwore  and  faid  it. 

Stick  clofe  to  fadls  and  give  no  credit. 

Think  you,  he  wifh'd  you*d  brave  and  beard  him  ? 

Why,  'twas  the  very  thing  that  fcar'd  him. 

He'd  rather  you  fliould  all  have  run. 

Than  ftay'd  to  fire  a  fingle  gun. 

And  for  the  civil  war  you  lament. 

Faith,  you  yourfelves  muft  take  the  blame  in't ; 

For  had  you  then,  as  he  intended, 

Giv'n  up  your  arms,  it  muft  have  ended. 

Since  that's  no  war,  each  mortal  knows. 

Where  one  fide  only  gives  the  blows. 

And  th'  other  bears  'em;  on  refleftion 

The  moft  you'll  call  it  is  correftion. 

Nor  could  the  conteft  have  gone  higher. 

If  you  had  ne'er  return'd  the  fire ; 


But 


:anto 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,   p.  m.     67 


mt 


But  when  you  fhot,  and  not  before. 
It  then  commenc*d  a  civil  wa^*^ 
Elfc  Gage,  to  end  this  controverfy. 
Had  but  correfted  you  in  mercy : 
Whom  mother  Britain  old  and  wife. 
Sent  o'er,  the  Cornies  to  chaftise ; 
Command  obedience  on  their  peril 
Of  minifterial  whip  and  ferule ; 
And  fmce  they  ne'er  mull  come  of  age. 
Governed  and  tutor'd  them  by  Gage. 
Still  more,  that  this  was  all  their  errand. 
The  army's  conduft  makes  apparent. 
What  tho*  at  Lexington  you  can  fay 
They  kill'd  a  few  they  did  not  fancy. 
At  Concord  then,  with  manful  popping. 
Discharged  a  round  the  ball  to  open  ? 
Yet  when  they  faw  your  rebel-rout 
Determined  ftill  to  hold  it  out ; 
Did  they  not  Ihow  their  love  to  peace. 
And  wifh,  that  difcord  ftrait  might  ceafe, 
Demonftrate,  and  by  proofs  uncommon. 
Their  orders  were  to  injure  no  man  ? 


But 


For 


1 1 


I 


•'  i 


! 


i;     • 


1 


i| 


li 


M'FlNGAL : 

For  did  not  ev*ry  Reg*Iar  run 
As  foon  as  e'er  you  fir*d  a  gun*®; 
Take  the  first  fliot  you  fent  them  greeting. 
As  meant  their  iignal  for  retreating ; 
And  fearful  if  they  ftaid  for  fport. 
You  might  by  accident  be  hurt. 
Convey  themselves  with  fpeed  away 
Full  twenty  miles  in  half  a  day*'; 
Race  till  their  legs  were  grown  fo  weary. 
They'd  fcarce  fufHce  their  weight  to  carry  ? 
Whence  Gage  extols,  from  gen'ral  hearfay. 
The  great  aftiv'ty  of  Lord  Piercy""; 
Whofe  brave  example  led  them  on. 
And  fpirited  the  troops  to  run ; 
And  now  may  boaft  at  royal  levees 
A  Yanky-chase  worth  forty  Chevys''^ 
Yet  you  as  vile  as  they  were  kind, 
Purfued,  like  tygers,  ftill  behind, 
Fir'd  on  them  at  your  will,  and  fhut 
The  town,  as  tho'  you'd  ftarve  them  out ; 
And  with  parade  prepoft'rous  hedg'd 
Affea  to  hold  them  there  befieg'd"; 


[canto 


(Tho' 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting^  p.m.     69 

(The*  Gage,  whom  proclamations  call 

Your  Gov'rnor  and  Vice-Admiral, 

Whole  pow'r  gubernatorial  ftill 

Extends  as  far  as  Bunker's  hill ; 

Whofe  admiralty  reaches  clever. 

Near  half  a  mile  up  Myftic  river*', 

Whofe  naval  force  commands  the  feas, 

Can  run  away  when*er  he  pleafe) 

Scar*d  troops  of  Tories  into  town. 

And  burnt  their  hay  and  houfes  down. 

And  menac'd  Gage/  unlefs  he*d  flee. 

To  drive  him  headlong  to  the  fea"; 

As  once,  to  faithless  Jews  a  fign. 

The  de*el,  turn*d  hog-reeve,  did  the  fwine''^ 

But  now  your  triumphs  all  are  o'er ; 

For  fee  from  Britain's  angry  Ihore 

With  mighty  hofts  of  valour  join 

Her  Howe,  her  Clinton  and  Burgoyne'^^ 

As  comets  thro*  the  affrighted  Ikies 

Pour  baleful  ruin,  as  they  rife"; 

As  JEtm,  with  infernal  roar  - 

In  conflagration  fweeps  the  fliore ; 

Or 


7© 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


Or  as  Abijah  White  when  fent 

Our  Marfhfield  friends  to  reprefent, 

Himfelf  while  dread  array  involves, 

Commiflions,  piftols,  fwords,  refolves. 

In  awful  pomp  defcending  down. 

Bore  terror  on  the  faftious  town  ^^ : 

Not  with  lefs  glory  and  affright. 

Parade  thefe  Gen*rals  forth  to  fight. 

No  more  each  Reg*lar  Col*nel  runs 

From  whizzing  beetles,  as  air-guns. 

Thinks  hornbugs  bullets,  or  thro*  fears 

Mufkitoes  takes  for  muiketeers ; 

Nor  *fcapes,  as  tho'  you'd  gain'd  allies 

From  Belzebub's  whole  hoft  of  flies. 

No  bug  their  warlike  hearts  appalls ; 

They  better  know  the  found  of  balls  *^. 

I  hear  the  din  of  battle  bray. 

The  trump  of  horror  marks  its  way. 

I  see  afar  the  fack  of  cities. 

The  gallows  flrung  with  Whig-committees®"; 

Your  Moderators  triced,  like  vermin. 

And  gate-polls  graced  with  heads  of  Chairmen ; 


Your 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  p.  m.     71 

Your  Gen*rals  for  wave-ofPrings  hanging *', 

And  ladders  throng'd  with  Priefts  haranguing. 

What  pill*ries  glad  the  Tories*  eyes 

With  patriot-ears  for  facrifice  ! 

What  whipping-pofts  your  chofen  race 

Admit  fucceffive  in  embrace®''. 

While  each  bears  off  his  crimes,  alack ! 

Like  Bunyan*s  pilgrim,  on  his  back*"; 

Where  then,  when  Tories  fcarce  get  clear. 

Shall  Whigs  and  Congrefles  appear  ? 

What  rocks  and  mountains  fhall  you  call 

To  wrap  you  over  with  their  fall. 

And  fave  your  heads  in  thefe  fad  weathers. 

From  fire  and  fword,  and  tar  and  feathers ! 

For  lo,  with  Britifh  troops  tarbright. 

Again  our  Nefbitt  heaves  in  light ! 

He  comes,  he  comes,  your  lines  to  ftorm. 

And  rig  your  troops  in  uniform  «M 

To  meet  fuch  heroes,  will  ye  brag. 

With  fury  arm'd,  and  feather-bag ; 

Who  wield  their  miffile  pitch  and  tar. 

With  engines  new  in  Britifh  war  ? 

IiO 


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72 


M'Finoal; 


[canto 


Lo,  where  our  mighty  navy  brings 
Deftruction  on  her  canvas- wings*'. 
While  thro*  the  deeps  her  potent  thunder. 
Shall  found  th'  alarm  to  rob  and  plunder ! 
As  Phoebus  firfl,  Co  Homer  fpeaks. 
When  he  march'd  out  t*  attack  the  Greeks", 
'Gainft  mules  ient  forth  his  arrows  fatal. 
And  flew  th'  auxiliaries,  their  cattle ; 
So  where  our  fliips  fhall  ftretch  the  keel. 
What  conquered  oxen  Ihall  they  fteal ! 
What  heroes  riling  from  the  deep 
Invade  your  marfhall'd  hofts  of  flieep ! 
Diiperfe  whole  troops  of  horfe,  and  preffing. 
Make  cows  fiirrender  at  difcretion ; 
Attack  your  hens,  like  Alexanders, 
And  reg'ments  rout  of  geefe  and  ganders ; 
Or  where  united  arms  combine 
Lead  captive  many  a  herd  of  fwine  " ! 
Then  rufli  in  dreadful  fury  down 
To  fire  on  ev*ry  feaport  town ; 
Diiplay  their  glory  and  their  wits. 
Fright  unarm'd  children  into  fits. 


And 


SECOND,]  The  Town-Meeting,  p.  m.     73 

And  ftoutly  from  th*  unequal  fray. 

Make  many  a  woman  run  away^M 

And  can  ye  doubt  whene'er  we  pleafe 

Our  chiefs  fhall  boall:  fuch  deeds  as  thefe  ? 

Have  we  not  chiefs  tranfcending  far. 

The  old  fam'd  thunderbolts  of  war ; 

Beyond  the  brave  romantic  fighters, 

Stiled  fwords  of  death  by  novel-writers  ? 

Nor  in  romancing  ages  e'er  rofe 

So  terrible  a  tier  of  heroes. 

From  Gage,  what  flafhes  fright  the  waves ! 

How  loud  a  blunderbufs  is  Graves*'! 

How  Newport  dreads  the  bluftring  fallies. 

That  thunder  from  our  popgun,  Wallace, 

While  noife  in  formidable  drains 

Spouts  from  his  thimble-full  of  brains™! 

I  fee  you  fink  with  aw'd  furprize ! 

I  fee  our  Tory-brethren  rile  ! 

And  as  the  feft'ries  Sandemanian, 

Our  friends  defcribe  their  wifli'd  Millennium"; 

Tell  how  the  world  in  ev'ry  region 

At  once  Ihall  own  their  true  religion ; 

For 


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MM 


74 


M*FiNG \L ; 


[canto 


For  heav*n  with  plagues  of  awful  dread 
Shall  knock  all  heretics  o'  th*  head ; 
And  then  their  church,  the  meek  in  fpirit. 
The  earth,  as  promifd,  fhall  inherit. 
From  the  dead  wicked,  as  heirs  male. 
And  next  remainder-men  in  tail : 
Such  ruin  fliall  the  Whigs  opprefs ! 
Such  fpoils  our  Tory  friends  Ihall  blefs ! 
While  Coniifcation  at  command" 
Shall  ftalk  in  horror  thro*  the  land. 
Shall  give  your  Whig-eftates  away. 
And  call  our  brethren  into  play. 

And  can  ye  doubt  or  fcruple  more, 
Thefe  things  are  near  you  at  the  door  ? 
Behold !  for  tho*  to  reaPning  blind. 
Signs  of  the  times  ye  fure  might  mind. 
And  view  impending  fate  as  plain 
As  ye*d  foretell  a  fhow*r  of  rain. 

Hath  not  heav*n  warn'd  you  what  muft  enfue. 

And  Providence  declared  againft  you ;      , 

Hui^ 


SECOND.]  The   Town-Meeting,  p.  m.      75 

Hung  forth  its  dire  portents  of  war. 

By  figns  and  beacons  in  the  air  " ; 

Alarm'd  old  women  all  around 

By  fearful  noiies  under  ground  ; 

While  earth  for  many  dozen  leagues 

Groan'd  with  her  difmal  load  of  Whigs  ? 

Was  there  a  meteor  far  and  wide 

But  mufter*d  on  the  Tory-iide  ? 

A  ftar  malign  that  has  not  bent 

Its  afpefts  for  the  Parliament, 

Foreboding  your  defeat  and  mifery ; 

As  once  they  fought  againft  old  Sifera  ''*  ? 

Was  there  a  cloud  that  (pread  the  fkies. 

But  bore  our  armies  of  allies  ? 

While  dreadful  hofts  of  fire  flood  forth 

'Mid  baleful  glimm'rings  from  the  North ; 

Which  plainly  fhows  which  part  they  join'd. 

For  North's  the  minifter,  ye  mind ; 

Whence  oft  your  quibblers  in  gazettes 

On  Northern  blafts  have  ftrain'd  their  wits "  ; 

And  think  ye  not  the  clouds  know  how 

To  make  the  pun  as  well  as  you  ? 


Did 


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ArchlbcW 


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if 


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|6  M'Finqal; 

Did  there  arife  an  apparition, 

But  grinn'd  forth  ruin  to  fcdition  ? 

A  death-watch,  but  has  join'd  our  leagues. 

And  clicked  deftruAion  to  the  Whigs  ? 

Heard  ye  not,  when  the  wind  was  fair. 

At  night  our  or'tors  in  the  air. 

That,  loud  as  admiralty-libel. 

Read  awful  chapters  from  the  bible. 

And  death  and  deviltry  denouncM, 

And  told  you  how  you'd  foon  be  trounc'd  ? 

I  fee  to  join  our  conquering  fide 

Heav'n,  earth  and  hell  at  once  allied ! 

See  from  your  overthrow  and  end 

The  Tories  paradifc  afcend ; 

Ldke  that  new  world  that  claims  its  flation 

Beyond  the  final  conflagration  ! 

I  fee  the  day  that  lots  your  fliare 

In  utter  darknefs  and  dcfpair ; 

The  day  of  joy,  when  North,  our  Lord, 

His  faithful  fav*rites  fliall  reward  ! 

No  Tory  then  fliall  fet  before  him 

Small  wifli  of  *Squire,  or  Juftice  Quorum ; 


[canto 


But 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,  P.M.    77 


But  'fore  his  unmidaken  eyes 

Sec  Lordfhips,  polls  and  penftons  rife. 

Awake  to  gladnefs  then,  ye  Tories, 

Th*  unbounded  profpedl  lies  before  us  ? 

The  pow'r  di(play*d  in  Gage's  banners 

Shall  cut  American  lands  to  manors. 

And  o*er  our  happy  conquer*d  ground 

Difpenfe  eflates  and  titles  round. 

Behold,  the  world  (hall  flare  at  new  fetts 

Of  home-made  earls  in  Maflachufetts  "  5 

Admire,  array*d  in  ducal  taflcls. 

Your  Ol'vers,  Hutchinfons  and  ValTals " ; 

See  join'd  in  miniflerial  work 

His  grace  of  Albany  and  York  '^  I 

What  Lordfliips  from  each  carv'd  eflate. 

On  our  New- York  Aflembly  wait ! 

What  titled  Jauncys'%  Gales'"  and  Billops" ; 

Lord  Brulh^Lord  Wilkins«»  and  Lord  Philips  «*! 
In  wide-fleev*d  pomp  of  godly  guife. 

What  folemn  rows  of  bifhops  rife ! 

Aloft  a  cardinal's  hat  is  ipread 

O'er  punfter  Cooper's  ^^  rev'rend  head ! 

In 


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M'Fingal: 

In  Vardell  ®',  that  poetic  zealot, 
I  view  a  lawn-bedizen*d  prelate ! 
While  mitres  fall,  as  'tis  their  duty. 
On  heads  of  Chandler  and  Auchmuty®'! 
Knights,  vifcounts,  "barons  fhall  ye  meet 
As  thick  as  pavements  in  the  ftreet ! 
Ev*n  I  perhaps,  heav'n  fpeed  my  claim. 
Shall  fix  a  Sir  before  my  name. 
For  titles  all  our  foreheads  ache ; 
For  what  bleft  changes  can  they  make ! 
Place  reverence,  grace  and  excellence 
Where  neither  claim*d  the  leaft  pretence ; 
Transform  by  patent's  magic  words 
Men,  likeft  devils,  into  Lords ; 
Whence  commoners  to  peers  tranflated 
Are  justly  faid  to  be  created  ^^! 
Now  where  commiffioners  ye  faw 
Shall  boards  of  nobles  deal  you  law  ! 
Long-robed  comptrollers  judge  your  rights. 
And  tide-waiters  ftart  up  in  knights ! 
While  Whigs  fubdued  in  flaviih  awe. 
Our  wood  fhall  hew,  our  water  draw. 


[canto 


And 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,   p.  m.     79 

And  blefs  that  mildnefs,  when  paft  hope. 
Which  fav*d  their  necks  from  noofe  of  rope. 
For  as  to  gain  affiftance  we 
Defign  their  Negroes  to  fet  free ; 
For  Whigs,  when  we  enough  fhall  bang  *em. 
Perhaps  'tis  better  not  to  hang  *em ; 
Except  their  chiefs ;  the  vulgar  knaves 
Will  do  more  good  preferv*d  for  flaves." 

"  'Tis  well,  Honorius  cried,  your  fcheme 

Has  painted  out  a  pretty  dream. 

We  can't  confute  your  fecond  fight ; 

We  fhall  be  flaves  and  you  a  knight : 

Thefe  things  muft  come  ;  but  I  divine 

They'll  come  not  in  your  day,  or  mine. 

But  oh,  my  friends,  my  brethren,  hear. 

And  turn  for  once  th'  attentive  ear. 

Ye  fee  how  prompt  to  aid  our  woes. 

The  tender  mercies  of  our  foes ; 

Ye  fee  with  what  unvaried  rancour 

Still  for  our  blood  their  minions  hanker. 

Nor  aught  can  fate  their  mad  ambition. 

From  us,  but  death,  or  worfe,  fubmiflion. 

Shall 


/ 


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If 


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il 
ill 


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1:  -' 


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la 


M'Fingal: 

Shall  thefe  then  riot  in  our  fpoil« 
Reap  the  glad  harveft  of  our  toil. 
Rife  from  their  country's  ruin  proud. 
And  roll  their  chariot  wheels  in  blood  ? 
And  can  ye  fleep  while  high  outfpread 
Hangs  defolation  o'er  your  head  ? 
See  Gage  with  inaufpicious  ftar  ^ 

Has  oped  the  gates  of  civil  war ; 
When  ftreams  of  gore  from  freemen  flain, 
Encrimfon'd  Concord's  fatal  plain ; 
Whofe  warning  voice  with  awful  found. 
Still  cries,  like  Abel's  from  the  ground. 
And  heav'n,  attentive  to  its  call. 
Shall  doom  the  proud  oppreflbr's  fall^'. 

Rife  then,  ere  ruin  fwift  furprize. 
To  viftory,  to  vengeance  rife ! 
Hark,  how  the  diftant  din  alarms ! 
The  echoing  trumpet  breathes,  to  arms ; 
From  provinces  remote,  afar. 
The  fons  of  glory  rouze  to  war ; 
*Tis  freedom  calls ;  th'  enraptur'd  found 
The  Apalachian  hills  rebound  ^°j 


[canto 


The 


SECOND.]  The   Town-Meeting,  p.  m.      8i 

The  Georgian  fhores  her  voice  Ihall  hear*'. 

And  ilart  from  lethargies  of  fear. 

From  the  parch*d  zone,  with  glowing  ray. 

Where  pours  the  fun  intenfer  day. 

To  fliores  where  icy  waters  roll. 

And  tremble  to  the  dufky  pole, 

Infpir'd  by  freedom's  heav'niy  charms. 

United  nations  wake  to  arms. 

The  ftar  of  conquell  lights  their  way. 

And  guides  their  vengeance  on  their  prey — 

Yes,  tho*  tyrannic  force  oppofe. 

Still  fhall  they  triumph  o'er  their  foes. 

Till  hcav*n  the  happy  land  fhall  blefs. 

With  fafety,  liberty  and  peace. 

And  ye  whofe  fouls  of  daftard  mould 

Start  nt  the  brav*ry  of  the  bold; 

To  love  your  country  who  pretend. 

Yet  want  all  fpirit  to  defend ; 

Who  feel  your  fancies  fo  prolific. 

Engendering  vifion'd  whims  terrific, 

O'er-run  with  horrors  of  coercion. 

Fire,  blood  and  thunder  in  reverfion. 

King's 


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82 


M'FlNGAL : 


[cANxr 


King's  ftandards,  pill'ries,  confifcations. 

And  Gage's  fcarecrow  proclamations*'*. 

With  all  the  trumpery  of  fear ; 

Hear  bullets  whizzing  in  your  rear ; 

Who  fcarce  could  rouze,  if  caught  in  fray, 

Prefence  of  mind  to  run  away  ; 

See  nought  but  halters  rife  to  view  , 

In  all  your  dreams  (and  dreams  are  true) ; 

And  while  thefe  phantoms  haunt  your  brains. 

Bow  down  the  willing  neck  to  chains ; 

Heav'ns !  are  ye  fons  of  fires  fo  great. 

Immortal  in  the  fields  of  fate. 

Who  brav'd  all  deaths  by  land  or  fea. 

Who  bled,  who  conquer'd  to  be  free ! 

Hence,  coward  fouls,  the  worft  difgrace 

Of  our  forefathers*  valiant  race ; 

Hie  homeward  from  the  glorious  field  ; 

There  turn  the  wheel,  the  diftafF  wield ; 

A61  what  ye  are,  nor  dare  to  ftain 

The  warrior's  arms  with  touch  profane  : 

There  beg  your  more  heroic  wives 

To  guard  your  children  and  your  lives ; 


Beneath 


SECOND.]  TheTown-Meetikg,p.m.     83 

Beneath  their  aprons  find  a  fcreen. 
Nor  dare  to  mingle  more  with  men.** 

As  thus  he  faid,  the  Tories*  anger 

Could  now  reftrain  itfelf  no  longer. 

Who  tried  before  by  many  a  freak,  or 

Infulting  noife,  to  ftop  the  fpeaker ; 

Swung  th'  unoil'd  hinge  of  each  pew-door ; 

Their  feet  kept  fliuffling  on  the  floor ; 

Made  their  disapprobation  known 

By  many  a  murmur,  hum  and  groan. 

That  to  his  fpeech  fupplied  the  place 

Of  counterpart  in  thorough-bafe  : 

As  bag-pipes,  while  the  tune  they  breathe. 

Still  drone  and  grumble  underneath  ; 

Or  as  the  fam*d  Demofthenes 

Harangued  the  rumbling  of  the  feas. 

Held  forth  with  eloquence  full  grave 

To  audience  loud  of  wind  and  wave^'; 

And  had  a  ftiller  congregation 

Than  Tories  are  to  hear  th*  oration. 

But  now  the  ftorm  grew  high  and  louder 

As  nearer  thunderings  of  a  cloud  are. 

And 


TnP 


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pi  '!;■ 

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Hi 


'  '4 


84 


M*  F  INGAL  : 


[canto 


And  ev'ry  foul  with  heart  and  voice 

Supplied  his  quota  df  the  noife ; 

Each  liftening  ear  was  fet  on  torture 

Each  Tory  bellVing  out,  to  order ; 

And  fome,  with  tongue  not  low  or  weak. 

Were  clam*ring  faft,  for  leave  to  fpeak ; 

The  moderator,  with  great  violence. 

The  cufhion  thump*d  with  "  Silence,  filence ; " 

The  conftable  to  ev'ry  prater 

Bawl'd  out,  "  Pray  hear  the  moderator  ^^;" 

Some  call'd  the  vote,  and  fome  in  turn 

Wer?  fcreaming  high,  "  Adjourn,  adjourn  :  " 

Not  chaos  heard  fuch  jars  and  clafhes 

When  all  the  ePments  fought  for  places. 

Each  bludgeon  foon  for  blows  was  tim'd; 

Each  fist  flood  ready  cocked  and  prini'd ; 

The  Jftorm  each  moment  louder  grew  ; 

His  fword  the  g»^oat  M'Fingal  drew, 

Prepai'J  in  either  *  la/.ce  to  Ihare, 

To  keep  the  peace,  or  aid  the  war. 

Nor  lac.cM  they  each  poetic  being,       '^ 

Whom  bardii  alone  are  fkiU'd  in  feeing ; 

Plum'd 


SECOND.]  The  Town-Meeting,   p.m.     85 


Plum'd  Viftory  ftood  perch'd  on  high. 

Upon  the  pulpit-canopy ''\ 

To  join,  as  is  her  cuftom  tried. 

Like  Indians,  on  the  ftrongeft  fide  ; 

The  Deftinies  with  (hears  and  diftafF, 

Drew  near  their  threads  of  life  to  twifl:  off; 

The  Furies  *gan  to  feaft  on  blows". 

And  broken  heads  or  Moody  nofe ; 

When  on  a  fudden  from  without 

Arofe  a  loud  terrific  Ihout ; 

And  ftrait  the  people  all  at  once  heard 

Of  tongues  an  univerfal  concert : 

Like  iEfop's  times,  as  fable  runs. 

When  ev'ry  creature  talk'd  at  once"". 

Or  like  the  variegated  gabble 

That  craz'd  the  carpenters  of  Babel  *"*. 

Each  party  foon  forgot  the  quarrel, 

A-id  let  the  other  go  on  parole  j 

Eager  to  know  what  fearful  matter 

Had  conjur*d  up  fuch  general  clatter ; 

And  left  the  church  in  thin  array, 

As'tho*  it  had  been  ledlure-day  ^'^, 


'■) 


Oar 


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t  Ml'' 'I' 


*      'Viii 


Ill 

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i 

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i  ^ 

,  i 

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M 


M'Fingal: 


[canto 


Our  *Squire  M'Fingal  ftraitway  beckon*d 
The  conftable  to  ftand  his  fecond. 

And  fallied  forth  with  afpeft  fierce 
The  crowd  alTembled  to  difperfe. 
The  moderator  out  of  view 
Beneath  a  bench  had  Iain  perdue ; 
Peep*d  up  his  head  to  view  the  fray. 
Beheld  the  wranglers  run  away. 
And  left  alone  with  folemn  face, 
Adjourn*d  them  without  time  or  place. 


END    OF   CANTO    Second. 


M'FINGAL : 


CANTO       THIRD, 


OR 


The  UBERTY  POLE. 


"]^rOW  arm*d  with  minifterial  ire. 

Fierce  Tallied  forth  our  loyal  'Squire, 
And  on  his  ftriding  fteps  attends. 
His  defp'rate  clan  of  Tory  friends; 
When  fudden  met  his  angry  eye, 
A  pole  afcending  thro'  the  fky. 
Which  numerous  throngs  of  Whiggilh  race 
Were  railing  in  the  market-place  * ; 
Not  higher  fchool-boys  kites  afpire. 
Or  royal  mail  or  country  fpire. 
Like  fpears  at  Brobdignagian  tilting  ^^ 
Or  Satan's  walking-llaff  in  Milton'; 


And 


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M'Fingal  : 

And  on  its  top  the  flag  unfurl'd. 
Waved  triumph  o*er  the  proftrate  world, 
Infcribed  with  inconfiftent  types 
Of  liberty  and  thirteen  ftripes*. 
Beneath,  the  croud  without  delay. 
The  dedication-rites  eflay. 
And  gladly  pay  in  antient  fafhion. 
The  ceremonies  of  libation ; 
While  briflcly  to  each  patriot  lip 
Walks  eager  round  th*  infpiring  flip': 
Delicious  draught,  whofe  powers  inherit 
The  quinteflence  of  public  fpirit ! 
Which  whofb  taftes,  perceives  his  mind 
To  nobler  politics  refined. 
Or  rouz*d  for  martial  controverfy. 
As  from  transforming  cups  of  Circe ' ; 
Or  warm'd  with  Homer's  neflar'd  liquor. 
That  fiird  the  veins  of  gods  with  ichor'. 
At  hand  for  new  fupplies  in  ftore. 
The  tavern  opes  its  friendly  door. 
Whence  to  and  fro  the  waiters  run. 
Like  bucket-men  at  fires  in  town'. 


[canto 


Then 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty   Pole. 

Then  with  three  fhouts  that  tore  the  fky, 
*Tis  confecrate  to  Liberty  ; 
To  guard  it  from  th*  attacks  of  Tories, 
A  grand  committee  cull*d  of  four  is, 
Who  foremoft  on  the  patriot  fpot, 
Had  brought  the  flip  and  paid  the  ihot. 

By  this,  M*Fingal  with  his  train, 
Advanc*d  upon  th*  adjacent  plain. 
And  fierce  with  loyal  rage  pofl*efs*d, 
Pour*d  forth  the  zeal,  that  fired  his  breaft, 
"  What  madbrain'd  rebel  gave  commiiliony 
To  raife  this  Maypole'  of  fedition ! 
Like  Babel  rear*d  by  bawling  throngs. 
With  like  confufion  too  of  tongues'*. 
To  point  at  heav*n  and  fummon  down. 
The  thundefs  of  the  Britifh  crown"? 
Say  will  this  paltry  pole  fecure 
Your  forfeit  heads  from  Gage*s  pow*r? 
Attack'd  by  heroes  brave  and  crafty. 
Is  this  to  ftand  your  ark  of  fafety  ? 
Or  driv'n  by  Scottilh  laird  and  laddie". 
Think  ye  to  reft  beneath  its  Ihadow  ? 


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90 


M'FiNOAL : 


[canto 


When  bombs,  like  fiery  ferpcnts,  fly 

And  balls  move  hifling  thro'  the  iky, 

Will  this  vile  pole,  devote  to  freedom. 

Save  like  the  Jewilh  pole  in  Edom ; 

Or,  like  the  brazen  fnake  of  Mofes", 

Cure  your  crack*t  fkulls  and  battcr*d  nofes  ? 

Ye  dupes  to  ev*ry  fadlious  rogue. 

Or  tavernprating  demagogue, 

Whofe  tongue  but  rings,  with  found  more  full. 

On  th'  empty  drumhead  of  his  fkuU, 

Behold  you  know  not  what  noify  fools 

Ufe  you,  worfe  flmpletons,  for  tools  ? 

For  Liberty  in  your  own  by-fenfe 

Is  but  for  crimes  a  patent  licence ; 

To  break  of  law  th*  Egyptian  yoke. 

And  throw  the  world  in  common  llock. 

Reduce  all  grievances  and  ills 

To  Magna  Charta  "  of  your  wills, 

Eftablifh  cheats  and  frauds  and  nonfenfe, 

Fram*d  by  the  model  of  your  confcience. 

Cry  juftice  down,  as  out  of  fafhion 

And  fix  its  fcale  of  depreciation  ",      ^ 


Defy 


rHIRD.l 


The   Liberty   Pole. 


9«' 


Defy  all  creditors  to  trouble  ye,   " 
And  pafs  new  years  of  Jewifli  jubilee    ; 
Drive  judges  out,  like  Aaron's  calves. 
By  jurifdictions  of  white  ftaves". 
And  make  the  bar  and  bench  and  fteeple. 
Submit  t'  our  fov'reign  Lord,  the  people ; 
Aflure  each  knave  his  whole  aiTets,  •'  /.  !  ; 
By  general  amnefty  of  debts ; 
By  plunder  rife  to  pow*r  and  glory. 
And  brand  all  property  as  tory*^; 
Expofe  all  \yares  to  lawful  fcizures 
Of  mobbers  and  monopolizers ; 
Break  heads  and  windows  and  the  peace. 
For  your  own  int'reft  and  increafe ; 
Difpute  and  pray  and  fight  and  groan. 
For  public  good,  and  mean  your  own ; 
Prevent  the  laws,  by  fierce  attacks. 
From  quitting  fcores  upon  your  backs. 
Lay  your  old  dread,  the  gallows,  low. 
And  feize  the  flocks''  your  antient  foe ; 
And  turn  them,  as  convenient  engines 
To  wreak  your  patriotic  vengeance ; 


3  ■.:  •'' 


While 


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92 


M'FlNGAL  : 


While  ally  your  claims  who  underftand^ 
Confefs  they're  in  the  owner's  hand : 
And  when  by  clamours  and  confufions. 
Your  freedom's  grown  a  public  nuifance^ 
Cry,  Liberty,  with  pow'rful  yearning. 
As  he  does,  fire,  whofe  houfe  is  burning, 
Tho*  he  already  has  much  more. 
Than  he  can  find  occafion  for. 
While  every  dunce,  that  turns  the  plains 
Tho'  bankrupt  in  eftate  and  brains. 
By  this  new  light  transform'd  to  traitor, 
Forfakes  his  plow  to  turn  didlator. 
Starts  an  haranguing  chief  of  Whigs, 
And  drags  you  by  the  ears,  like  pigs. 
All  blufter  arm'd  with  faftious  licence, 
Transform'd  at  once  to  politicians ; 
Each  leather-apron'd  clown  grown  wife, 
Prefents  his  forward  face  t'  advife. 
And  tatter'd  legiflators  meet 
From  ev'ry  workfhop  thro*  the  ftreet ; 
His  goofe  the  tailor  finds  new  ufe  in. 
To  patch  and  turn  the  conflitution ; 


[canto 


The 


THIRD.]        Th£  Liberty  Pole. 


91 


The  blackfmith  comes  with  fledge  and  grate. 
To  ironbind  the  wheels  of  ftate  ; 
The  quack  forbears  his  patient's  foufe. 
To  purge  the  Council  and  the  Houfe, 
The  tinker  quits  his  molds  and  doxies. 
To  caft  aflembly-men  at  proxies'®. 
From  dunghills  deep  of  fable  hue. 
Your  dirtbred  patriots  fpring  to  view. 
To  wealth  and  pow*r  and  penfion  rife. 
Like  new-wing'd  maggots  changed  to  flies ; 
And  fluttring  round  in  proud  parade 
Strut  in  the  robe,  or  gay  cockade. 
See  Arnold  quits  for  ways  more  certain,     . 
His  bankrupt  perj'ries  for  his  fortune. 
Brews  rum  no  longer  in  his  ftore. 
Jockey  and  ikipper  npw  no  more ; 
Forfakes  his  warehoufes  and  docks. 
And  writs  of  fland^r  for  the  pox. 
And  purg*d  by  patriotifm  from  fliame. 
Grows  Gen*ral  of  the  foremoft  name". 


/     I 


Hiatus", 


For 


94 


M'FiNG  AL  : 


fCANTO 


i*-!-  -. 


iliiliiilil! 


For  in  this  ferment  of  the  ftream. 
The  dregs  have  work'd  up  to  the  brim, 
And  by  the  rule  of  topfyturvys. 
The  Ileum  (lands  fwelling  on  the  furface. 
YouVe  caus'd  your  pyramid  t*  afccnd 
And  fet  it  on  the  little  end; 
Like  Hudibras  **,  your  empire's  made. 
Whole  crupper  had  o'ertopped  his  head ; 
YouVe  pufh'd  and  tiirn'd  the  whole  world  up- 
Side  down  and  got  yourfelves  a-top  ; 
While  all  the  great  ones  of  your  ftate, 
Are  crufli*d  beneath  the  popular  weight, 
Nor  can  you  boaft  this  prefent  hour. 
The  fliadow  of  the  form  of  pow*r. 
For  what's  your  Congrefs,  or  its  end  ? 
A  power  t*  advife  and  recommend  | 
To  call  for  troops,  adjuft  your  quotas. 
And  yet  no  foul  is  bound  to  notice'*; 
To  pawn  your  faith  to  th'  utmoft  limit. 
But  cannot  bind  you  to  redeem  it*'. 
And  when  in  want  no  more  in  them  lies, 
Than  begging  of  your  State- Aflembliea ; 


Can 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole, 


93 


Can  utter  oracles  of  dread. 
Like  friar  Bacon's  brazen  head  ^, 
But  Ihould  a  fadlion  e'er  difpute  *em. 
Has  ne'er  an  arm  to  execute  *em. 
As  tho*  you  chofe  fupreme  diftators. 
And  put  them  under  confervators ; 
You've  but  purfued  the  felffame  way, 
With  Shakefpeare's  Trinclo  in  the  play  ", 
"  You  Ihall  be  viceroys  here,  'tis  true. 
But  we'll  be  viceroys  over  you." 
What  wild  confufion  hence  muft  enfue, 
Tho'  common  danger  yet  cements  you  ; 
So  fome  wreck'd  veflel,  all  in  Ihatters, 
[s  held  up  by  furrounding  waters. 
But  ftranded,  when  the  preflure  ceafes. 
Falls  by  its  rottennefs  to  pieces. 
And  fall  it  muft — ^if  wars  were  ended. 
You'll  ne'er  have  fenfe  enough  to  mend  it ; 
But  creeping  on  with  low  intrigues 
Like  vermin  of  an  hundred  legs^'. 
Will  find  as  fhort  a  life  affign'd. 
As  all  things  elfe  of  reptile  kind. 


Your 


r'^i! 


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:.,    ,    I: 


HI 


Ml 


96 


M'Fingal': 


CANTO 


Your  Commonwealth's  a  common  harlot^ 
The  property  of  ev'ry  varlet. 
Which  now  in  tafte  and  full  employ. 
All  forts  admire,  as  all  enjoy ; 
But  foon  a  batter'd  ftrumpet  grown. 
You'll  curfe  and  driun  her  out  of  town. 
Such  is  the  government  you  chofe. 
For  this  you  bade  the  world  be  foes. 
For  this  fo  mark'd  for  diiTolution, 
You  fcorn  the  Britifh  conftitution''. 
That  conftitution,  form'd  by  fages. 
The  wonder  of  all  modern  ages : 
Which  owns  no  failure  in  reality. 
Except  corruption  and  venality ; 
And  only  proves  the  adage  juft. 
That  beft  things  fpoil*d  corrupt  to  worft. 
So  man  fupreme  in  mortal  ftation. 
And  mighty  lord  of  this  creation. 
When  once  his  corfe  is  dead  as  herring. 
Becomes  the  moll  ofFenfive  carrion. 
And  fooner  breeds  the  plague,  'tis  found. 
Than  all  beafls  rotting  'bove  the  ground. 


Yet 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 


97 


Yet  for  this  gov'nunent,  to  difmay  us, 
YouVe  call*d  up  anarchy  from  chaos. 
With  all  the  followers  of  her  fchool. 
Uproar  and  rage  and  wild  mifrule ; 
For  whom  this  rout  of  Whigs  diftraded 
And  ravings  dire  of  ev*ry  crack*d  head ; 
Thefe  new-caft  legiflative  engines 
Of  county-mufters  and  conventions, 
Conmiittees  vile  of  correfpondence**. 
And  mobs,  whofe  tricks  have  almoft  undone  's ; 
While  reafon  fails  to  check  your  courfe^ 
And  loyalty's  kick'd  out  of  doors. 
And  folly,  like  inviting  landlord, 
Hoifts  on  your  poles  her  royal  ftandard. 
While  the  king's  friends  in  doleful  dumps. 
Have  worn  their  courage  to  the  flumps. 
And  leaving  George  in  fad  difafter, 
Moft  iinfully  deny  their  mailer. 
What  furies  raged  when  you  in  fea. 
In  fliape  of  Indians  drown'd  the  tea'^ 
When  your  gay  fparks,  fatigued  to  watch  it'*', 
Aflimied  the  moggifon  '*  and  hatchet. 


With 


LI 


MS 


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i;il 


Hill 


iijii 


Mm 


r'J  ■     I' I'!' 
If:  i'  ■  liiil 


I  ':  m 


mw 


HI! 


98 


M'Fi NOAL : 


[canto 


With  wampomM  blankets  hid  their  laces". 

And  like  their  fweethearts,  primed  their  faces": 

While  not  a  redcoat"  dar'd  oppofe. 

And  fcarce  a  Tory  fhow'd  his  nofe,  ' 

While  Hutchinfon  for  fure  retreat, 

Manouvred  to  his  country  feat. 

And  thence  affrighted  in  the  fud». 

Stole  off  bareheaded  thro'  the  woods"! 

Have  you  not  rous'd  your  mobs  to  join. 

And  make  Mandamus-men  refign", 

Call*d  forth  each  duffil-drefs'd  curmudgeon. 

With  dirty  trowfers  and  white  bludgeon, 

Forc'd  all  our  Councils  thro'  the  land. 

To  yield  their  necks  to  your  command"; 

While  palenefs  marks  their  late  difgraces 

Thro*  all  their  rueful  length  of  faces  ? 

Have  you  not  caufed  as  woful  work. 

In  loyal  city  of  New  York*^, 

When  aU  the  rabble  well  cockaded. 

In  triumph  thro*  the  ftreets  paraded ; 

And  mobb*d  the  Tories,  feared  their  fpoufes. 

And  ranfack*d  all  the  cuflom-houfes  *^, 


Maae 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 


9^ 


Made  fuch  a  tumult,  bluder,  jarring. 
That  mid  the  clafh  of  tcmpcfts  warring. 
Smith's  weathercock**  with  veers  forlorn. 
Could  hardly  tell  which  way  to  turn ; 
Burnt  effigies  of  th*  higher  powers*'. 
Contrived  in  planetary  hours. 
As  witches  with  clay-images, 
Deftroy  or  torture  whom  they  pleafe ; 
Till  fired  with  rage,  th*  ungrateful  club 
Spared  not  your  beft  friend,  Belzebub**, 
0*erlook*d  his  favours  and  forgot 
The  reverence  due  his  cloven  foot. 
And  in  the  felffame  furnace  frying, 
Burn*d  him  and  North  and  Bute  and  Tryon  ^ 
Did  you  not  in  as  vile  and  fhallow  way. 
Fright  our  poor  Philadelphian,  Galloway, 
Your  Congrefs  when  the  daring  ribald 
Belied,  berated  and  befcribbled  ? 
What  ropes  and  halters  did  you  fend. 
Terrific  emblems  of  his  end. 
Till  leaft  he'd  hang  in  more  than  effigy. 
Fled  in  a  fog  the  trembling  refugee*'? 


Now 


i^  I 


rJ'ilii 


I'' 


* 


'hWW 


'  'I 


wm 


100 


M     r  INOAL  • 


Now  fifing  in  progrcffion  fatal. 
Have  you  not  ventured  to  give  battle  ? 
When  treafon  chaced  our  heroes  troubled. 
With  rufty  gun  and  leathern  doublet, 
Turn'd  all  flonewalls  and  groves  and  buihes. 
To  batt'ries  arm*d  with  blunderbuflcs. 
And  with  deep  wounds  that  fate  portend, 
Gaul'd  many  a  regular's  latter  end. 
Drove  them  to  Bofton,  as  in  jail. 
Confined  without  mainprize  or  huV, 
Were  not  thefe  deeds  enough  betimes. 
To  heap  the  meafure  of  your  crimes. 
But  in  this  loyal  town  and  dwelling, 
You  raife  thefe  pnfigns  of  rebellion  ? 
'Tis  done  ;  fair  Mercy  fhuts  her  door ; 
And  Vengeance  now  fhall  fleep  no  more**; 
Rife  then,  my  friends,  in  terror  rife. 
And  wipe  this  fcandal  from  the  flcies  I 
You'll  fee  their  Dagon  *',  tho*  well  jointed. 
Will  fmk  before  the  Lord's  anointed'*. 
And  like  old  Jericho's  proud  wall, 
Before  our  ram's  horns  proftrate  fall".** 


[canto 


This 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 

This  faid,  our  'Squire,  yet  undifmayM, 
Caird  forth  the  Conftable  to  aid. 
And  bade  him  read  in  nearer  flation. 
The  riot-a£t  and  proclamation  ; 
Who  now  advancing  tow*rd  the  ring. 
Began,  "  Our  fov*reign  Lord  the  King  " — "* 
When  thoufand  clam'rous  tongues  he  hears. 
And  clubs  and  Hones  aflail  his  ears ; 
To  fly  was  vain,  to  fight  was  idle. 
By  foes  encompafs*d  in  the  middle ; 
In  ilratagem  his  aid  he  found. 
And  fell  right  craftily  to  ground ; 
Then  crept  to  feek  an  hiding  place, 
*Twas  all  he  could,  beneath  a  brace ; 
Where  foon  the  conq'ring  crew  efpied  him. 
And  where  he  lurk'd,  they  caught  and  tied  him. 

At  once  with  refolution  fatal. 
Both  Whigs  and  Tories  rufh*d  to  battle ; 
Inftead  of  weapons,  either  band 
Seiz*d  on  fuch  arms,  as  came  to  hand. 
And  as  fam*d  Ovid  paints  th'  adventures 
Of  wrangling  Lapithae  and  Centaurs'*', 


101 


Who 


1 

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ii^ 

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If 

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1 

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li!i    I 


iiiiiilfi 


'"'\\ 


102 


M'Fingal: 


[canto 


Who  at  their  feaft,  by  Bacchus"  led, 

Thi  ew  bottks  at  each  other's  head. 

And  thefe  arms  failing  in  their  fcuffles. 

Attacked  with  handirons,  tongs  and  Ihovels : 

So  clubs  and  billets,  ftaves  and  flones 

Met  fierce,  encountering  ev*ry  fconce. 

And  covered  o'er  with  knobs  and  pains 

Each  void  receptacle  for  brains ; 

Their  clamours  rend  the  hills  around. 

And  earth  rebellows  with  the  found ; 

And  many  a  groan  increased  the  din 

From  broken  nofe  and  batter'd  fliin. 

M'Fingal  rifing  at  fbe  word. 

Drew  forth  his  old  militia  fword ; 

Thrice  cried,  "  King  George,"  as  erfl  in  diflrels 

Romancing  heroes  did  their  miftrefs. 

And  brandifhing  the  blade  in  air. 

Struck  terror  thro'  th'  oppoling  war. 

The  Whigs,  unfafe  within  the  wind 

Of  fuch  commotion  fhrunk  behind. 

With  whirling  fteel  around  addrefs'd. 

Fierce  thro'  their  thickeft  throng  he  prefs'd, 

(Who 


THIRD.]         The  Liberty   Pole. 

(Who  roird  on  either  fide  in  arch. 
Like  Red-fea  waves  in  Ifrael*s  march) 
And  like  a  meteor  rufliing  through. 
Struck  on  their  pol<.  a  vengeful  blow. 
Around,  the  Whigs,  of  clubs  and  ftones 
Difcharg*d  whole  voUies  in  platoons. 
That  o*er  in  whiflling  terror  fly. 
But  not  a  foe  dares  venture  nigh. 
And  now  perhaps  with  conqueft  crown'd. 
Our  'Squire  had  fell*d  their  pole  to  ground  ; 
Had  not  fome  Pow*r,  a  Whig  at  heart, 
Defcended  down  and  took  their  part ; 
(Whether  'twere  Pallas ^^  Mars''',  or  Iris", 
*Tis  fcarce  worth  while  to  make  enquiries) 
Who  at  the  nick  of  time  alarming, 
Aflumed  the  graver  form  of  Chairman ; 
Addrefs'd  a  Whig,  in  ev'ry  fcene 
The  ftouteft  wreftler  on  the  green. 
And  pointed  where  the  ipade  was  found. 
Late  ufed  to  fix  their  pole  in  ground. 
And  urg*d  with  equal  arms  and  might 
To.  dare  our  'Squire  to  fmgle  fight  ^^ 


103 


The 


I04 


M'FiNOAL : 


[canto 


1      nil' 


If 


''% 


i 

1 

n    1 

IliMJ 

i 
1 
1 

'.1    I': 

i 

||i 

1  !! 

^1 

i 

The  Whig  thus  arm*d,  untaught  to  yield. 

Advanced  tremendous  to  the  field ; 

Nor  did  M'Fingal  fhun  the  foe. 

But  ftood  to  brave  the  defp'rate  blow ; 

While  all  the  party  gaz*d  fufpended. 

To  fee  the  deadly  combat  ended. 

And  Jove  in  equal  balance  weigh'd 

The  fword  againfl  the  brandifh*d  fpade. 

He  weigh'd ;  but  lighter  than  a  dream. 

The  fword  flew  up  and  klck'd  the  beam. 

Our  'Squire  on  tiptoe  rifmg  fair. 

Lifts  high  a  noble  flroke  in  air. 

Which  hung  not,  but  like  dreadful  engines 

Defcended  on  the  foe  in  vengeance. 

But  ah,  in  danger  with  difhonor 

The  fword  perfidious  fails  its  owner ; 

That  fword,  which  oft  had  flood  its  ground 

By  huge  trainbands  encompafs*d  round. 

Or  on  the  bench,  with  blade  right  loyaP', 

Had  won  the  day  at  many  a  trial. 

Of  flones  and  clubs  had  bravM  th*  alarms. 

Shrunk  from  thefe  new  Vulcanian  arms^\ 


The 


THIRD.]         The  Liberty   Pole. 


105 


The  fpade  fo  temper'd  from  the  fledge. 
Nor  keen  nor  folid  harm*d  its  edge. 
Now  met  it  from  his  arm  of  might 
Defcending  with  fteep  force  to  fmite*'; 
The  blade  fhapp*d  fliort — and  from  his  hand 
With  fuft  embrown'd  the  glittering  fand. 
Swift  turn*d  M'Fingal  at  the  view. 
And  call*d  for  aid  th'  attendant  crew. 
In  vain ;  the  Tories  all  had  run. 
When  fcarce  the  fight  was  well  begun  ; 
Their  fetting  wigs  he  faw  decreased 
Far  in  th'  horizon  tow*rd  the  weft. 
Amaz*d  he  viewed  the  fliameful  fight. 
And  faw  no  refuge  but  in  flight : 
But  age  unweildy  checked  his  pace, 
Tho*  fear  had  wing'd  his  flying  race  ; 
For  not  a  trifling  prize  at  ftake ; 
No  lefs  than  great  M*Fingal*s  back. 
With  legs  and  arms  he  work*d  his  courfe. 
Like  rider  that  outgoes  his  horfe. 
And  labour'd  hard  to  get  away,  as 
014  Satan  ftruggling  on  thro*  chaos": 


Till 


io6 


M*FlNG  AL  ; 


[canto 


S  !!'■' 


!ii|   ! 


HI     n: 


-.'■  "Ill Hi!  liiM 


Till  looking  back  he  fpied  in  rear 

The  fpade-arm*d  chief  advanced  too  near. 

Then  ftopp'd  and  feiz*d  a  ftone  that  lay. 

An  antient  land-mark  near  the  way ; 

Nor  fhall  we,  as  old  Bards  have  done. 

Affirm  it  weigh'd  an  hundred  ton  "^ :  • 

But  fuch  a  ftone  as  at  a  fhift 

A  modern  might  fuffice  to  lift. 

Since  men,  to  credit  their  enigmas. 

Are  dwindled  down  to  dwarfs  and  pigmies. 

And  giants  exiled  with  their  cronies. 

To  Brobdingnags  and  Patagonias**. 

But  while  our  hero  turn'd  him  round. 

And  ftoop*d  to  raife  it  from  the  ground. 

The  deadly  fpade  difcharg'd  a  blow 

Tremendous  on  his  rear  below : 

His  bent  knee  faiFd,  and  void  of  ftrength. 

Stretched  on  the  ground  his  manly  length ; 

Like  antient  oak  o'erturn*d  he  lay. 

Or  tow'rs  to  tempefts  fall*n  a  prey,  ' 

And  more  things  elfe — but  all  men  know  'em. 

If  flightly  vers'd  in  Epic  Poem. 


At 


THIPD.] 


Thb  Liberty   Pole. 


107 


At  once  the  crew,  at  this  fad  crifis. 
Fall  on  and  bind  him  ere  he  rifes. 
And  with  loud  fhouts  and  joyful  foul 
Conduft  him  pris'ncr  to  the  pole. 

When  now  the  Mob  in  lucky  hour. 
Had  got  their  en'mies  in  their  pow*r. 
They  firft  proceed  by  wife  command 
To  take  the  conflable  in  hand. 
Then  from  the  pole's  fublimeft  top 
They  fpeeded  to  let  down  the  rope. 
At  once  its  other  end  in  hafte  bind. 
And  make  it  fad  upon  his  waiftband. 
Till  like  the  earth,  as  ftrctch*d  on  tenter. 
He  hung  felf-balanc*d  on  his  center*''. 
Then  upwards  all  hands  holding  fail. 
They  fwung  him,  like  a  keg  of  ale. 
Till  to  the  pinnacle  fo  fair. 
He  rofe  like  meteor  in  the  air. 
As  Socrates  of  old  at  firft  did 
To  aid  philofophy  get  hoifted, 
And  found  his  thoughts  flow  ftrangely  clear. 
Swung  in  a  bafkct  in  mid  air '" : 


Our 


!r:.:i 


■I 


l:;ii  ! 


?■  I 


If, 


mmm 


mn 


Mm 


m 


f.   • 


f  fi!i''-i  ll 


io8 


M'FlNGAL  : 


[canto 


Our  culprit  thus  in  purer  fky. 

With  like  advantage  rais'd  his  eye ; 

And  looking  forth  in  profpeft  wide 

His  Tory  errors  clearly  fpied. 

And  from  his  elevated  ftation^ 

With  bawling  voice  began  addreflingt 

"  Good  gentlemen  and  friends  and  kin, 

For  heavVs  fake  hear,  if  not  for  mine  I 

I  here  renounce  the  Pope,  the  Turks, 

The  King,  the  Devil  and  all  their  works ; 

And  will,  fet  me  but  once  at  eafe. 

Turn  Whig  or  Chriftian,  what  you  please ; 

And  always  mind  your  laws  as  juftly ; 

Should  I  live  long  as  old  Methus'lah, 

FU  never  join  with  Britifh  rage. 

Nor  help  Lord  North,  or  Gen*ral  Gage, 

Nor  lift  my  gun  in  future  fights, 

Nor  take  away  your  charter*d  rights. 

Nor  overcome  your  new-rais'd  levies, 

Deftroy  your  towns,  nor  burn  your  navies, , 

Nor  cut  your  poles  down  while  I've  breath, 

Tho'  raisM  more  thick  than  hatchel-tceth  " : 


But 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 

But  leave  king  George  and  all  his  elves 
To  do  their  conq*ring  work  themfelves." 

This  faid,  they  lower*d  him  down  in  ftate. 
Spread  at  all  points,  like  falling  cat ; 
But  took  a  vote  firft  on  the  queftion. 
That  they'd  accept  this  full  confeffion. 
And  to  their  fellowfhip  and  favor, 
Reftore  him  on  his  good  behaviour. 


109 


Not  fo,  our  'Squire  fubmits  to  rule. 
But  flood  heroic  as  a  mule. 
"  You'll  find  it  all  in  vain,  quoth  he. 
To  play  your  rebel  tricks  on  me. 
All  punilhments  the  world  can  render. 
Serve  only  to  provoke  th'  offender ; 
The  will's  confirm'd  by  treatment  horrid. 
As  hides  grow  harder  when  they're  curried. 
No  man  e'er  felt  the  halter  draw. 
With  good  opinion  of  the  law ; 
Or  held  in  method  orthodox 
His  love  of  juftice  in  the  flocks*^; 


Or 


no 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


:.|!i:|li!i 


Or  fail'd  to  lofe  by  ftierifF's  fhears 
At  once  his  loyalty  and  ears'*. 
Have  you  made  Murray '*•  look  Icfs  big. 
Or  fmoak*d  old  Williams  to  a  Whig"? 
Did  our  mobb*d  Oliver"  quit  his  ftation. 
Or  heed  his  vows  of  refignation  ? 
Has  Rivington,  in  dread  of  ftripes, 
Ceas'd  lying  fince  you  ftole  his  types"? 
And  can  you  think  my  faith  will  alter. 
By  tarring,  whipping,  or  the  halter  ? 
I'll  ftand  the  worft  j  for  recompence 
I  truft  King  George  and  Providence. 
And  when,  our  conquefl  gain'd,  I  come, 
Array*d  in  law  and  terror  home. 
You'll  rue  this  inauipicious  morn. 
And  curfe  the  day  you  e'er  were  bom. 
In  Job's  high  ftyle  of  imprecations. 
With  all  his  plagues,  without  his  patience." 

Meanwhile  befide  the  pole,  the  guard 
A  Bench  of  Juftice  had  prepar'd. 
Where  fitting  round  in  awful  fort. 
The  grand  Committee  hold  their  court  ''* ; 


While 


,1 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 


Ill 


While  all  the  crew  in  filent  awe. 
Wait  from  their  lips  the  lore  of  law. 
Few  moments  with  deliberation. 
They  hold  the  folemn  confultation^ 
When  foon  in  judgment  all  agree. 
And  Clerk  declares  the  dread  decree ; 
"  That  'Squire  M'Fingal  having  grown, 
The  vileft  Tory  in  the  town. 
And  now  on  full  examination, 
Convifted  by  his  own  confeffion. 
Finding  no  tokens  of  repentance. 
This  Court  proceed  to  render  fentence : 
That  firft  the  Mob  a  flip-knot  fmgle 
Tie  round  the  neck  of  faid  M'Fingal ; 
And  in  due  form  do  tar  him  next. 
And  feather,  as  the  law  diredls ; 
Then  thro*  the  town  attendant  ride  him. 
In  cart  with  Conftable  befide  him. 
And  having  held  him  up  to  fliame. 
Bring  to  the  pole  from  whence  he  came".' 

Forthwith  the  croud  proceed  to  deck 
With  halter'd  noofe  M'Fingal's  neck. 


While 


112 


M'FiNOAL  : 


[canto 


While  he,  in  peril  of  his  foul. 
Stood  tied  half-hanging  to  the  pole ; 
Then  lifting  high  the  pond'rous  jar, 
Pour'd  o'er  his  head  the  fmoaking  tar : 
With  lefs  profufion  eril  was  fpread 
The  Jewish  oil  on  royal  head",  ^ 

That  down  liis  beard  and  veflments  ran. 
And  cover'd  all  his  outward  man. 
As  when  (fo  Claudian  fings)  the  Gods 
And  earth-born  giants  fell  at  odds"*^. 
The  ftout  Enceladus"  in  malice 
Tore  mountains  up  to  throw  at  Pallas ; 
And  as  he  held  them  o'er  his  hejid,  , 
The  river  from  their  fountains  fed, 
Pour'd  down  his  back  its  copious  tide. 
And  wore  its  channels  in  his  hyde : 
So  from  the  high  rais'd  urn  the  torrents. 
Spread  down  his  fide  their  various  currents ; 
His  flowing  wig,  as  next  the  brim,     r, 
Firft  met  and  drank  the  fable  ftream ; 
Adown  his  vifage  ftern  and  grave, 
Roll'd  and  adhered  the  vifcid  wave  j 


6 


With 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 


»«3 


With  arms  depending  as  he  floods 

Each  cuff  capacious  holds  the  flood; 

From  nofe  and  chin's  remotefl  end. 

The  tarry  icicles  depend;  f 

Till  all  o'erfpread,  with  colors  gay  ..^ 

He  glitter'd  to  the  weftern  ray,  ] 

Like  fleet-bound  trees  in  wintry  ikies. 

Or  Lapland  idol  carv*d  in  ice. 

And  now  the  feather-bag  difplay'd. 

Is  wav'd  in  triumph  o*er  his  head. 

And  ipreads  him  o'er  with  feathers  miflive. 

And  down  upon  the  tar  adheflve : 

Not  Maia's  fon,  with  wings  for  ears". 

Such  plumes  around  his  vifage  wears ; 

Nor  Milton's  fix  wing'd  angel  ®®  gathers. 

Such  fuperfluity  of  feathers. 

Till  all  compleat  appears  our  'Squire 

Like  Gorgon  or  Chimera  dire"; 

Nor  more  could  boaft  on  Plato's  plan 

To  rank  amid  the  race  of  man. 

Or  prove  his  claim  to  human  nature. 

As  a  two-legg'd,  unfeather*d  creature". 


Then 


I. 


h 


m 


I 

ip! 
n'l 


^:i!i 


114 


M'FiNOAL  : 


Then  on  the  two-whccrd  car  of  ftatc. 
They  rais*d  our  grand  Duumvirate". 
And  as  at  Rome  a  like  committee,    ' 
That  found  an  owl  within  their  city. 
With  folemn  rites  and  fad  proccflions. 
At  ev*ry  flirine  performed  luftrations ; 
And  lead  infedUon  fhoald  abound 
From  prodigy  with  face  fo  round. 
All  Rome  attends  him  thro'  the  Hreet, 
In  triumph  to  his  country-feat"*; 
With  like  devotion  all  the  choir 
Paraded  round  our  fcathcr*d  'Squire ; 
In  front  the  martial  muiic  comes 
Of  horns  and  fiddles,  Hfes  and  drums. 
With  jingling  found  of  carriage  bells. 
And  treble  creak  of  ruftcd  wheels ; 
Behind,  the  croud  in  lengthened  row. 
With  grave  procelfion  clofed  the  (how ; 
And  at  fit  periods  ev*ry  throat 
Combined  in  univerfal  (hout. 
And  hail'd  great  Liberty  in  chorus. 
Or  bawFd,  Confufion  to  the  Tories. 


\ 


[canto 


Not 


THIRD.]        The  Liberty  Pole. 

Not  louder  ftorm  the  welkin  hraves. 
From  clamors  of  ronflitling  waves ; 
Lcfs  dire  in  Lybian  wilds  the  noife 
When  rav'ning  lions  lift  their  voice ; 
Or  triumphs  at  town-meetings  made. 
On  palling  votes  to  reg'late  trade". 

Thus  having  borne  them  round  the  town, 
Laft  at  the  pole  they  fct  them  down. 
And  tow*rd  the  tavern  take  their  way. 
To  end  in  mirth  the  feftal  day. 


"5 


And  now  the  Mob  difpcrs*d  and  gone. 
Left  *Squire  and  Conftable  alone. 
The  Conftable  in  rueful  cafe 
Lean*d  fad  and  folemn  o*er  a  brace. 
And  faft  belide  him,  cheek  by  jowl. 
Stuck  *Squire  M'Fingal  'gainft  the  pole. 
Glued  by  the  tar  t*  his  rear  applied. 
Like  barnacle®*  on  veireFs  fide. 
But  tho*  his  body  lack*d  phyfician. 
His  fpirit  was  in  worfe  condition. 


He 


i 


'] 


i 


a 


1 1 


II 


''  II  J 


"  1  Si 


Pi       y' 


■'K 


ii6 


M'FiNG  AL 


[canto 


He  found  his  fears  of  whips  and  ropes. 
By  many  a  drachm  outweighed  his  hopes. 
As  men  in  goal  without  mainprize. 
View  ev*ry  thing  with  other  eyes. 
And  all  goes  wrong  in  church  and  ftate, 
Seen  thro*  peripeftive  of  the  grate : 
So  now  M'Fingal's  fecond-light 
Beheld  all  things  in  difPrent  light ; 
His  vifual  nerve,  well  purged  with  tar. 
Saw  all  the  coming  fcenes  of  war. 
As  his  prophetic  foul  grew  ftronger. 
He  found  he  could  hold  in  no  longer ; 
Firft  from  the  pole,  as  fierce  he  fhook. 
His  wig  from  pitchy  durance  broke. 
His  mouth  unglued,  his  feathers  fluttered. 
His  tarr'd  fkirts  crack'd,  and  thus  he  utter*d, 
"  Ah,  Mr.  Conftable,  in  vain 
We  ftrive  'gainft  wind  and  tide  and  rain ! 
Behold  my  doom !  this  feather'd  omen 
Portends  what  difmal  times  are  coming. 
Now  future  fcenes  before  my  eyes. 
And  fecond-fighted  forms  arife ; 


I  hear 


THIRD.]         The  Liberty   Pole. 

I  hear  a  voice  that  calls  away. 
And  cries,  the  Whigs  will  win  the  day^; 
My  beck*ning  Genius  gives  command. 
And  bids  us  fly  the  fatal  land ; 
Where  changing  name  and  conftitution. 
Rebellion  turns  to  revolution^®. 
While  Loyalty  opprefs*d  in  tears. 
Stands  trembling  for  its  neck  and  ears. 
Go,  fummon  all  our  brethren  greeting. 
To  mufter  at  our  ufual  meeting. 
There  my  prophetic  voice  fliall  warn  *em. 
Of  all  things  future  that  concern  'em. 
And  fcenes  difclofe  on  which,  my  friend. 
Their  conduft  and  their  lives  depend  : 
There  I — but  firft  *tis  more  of  ufe. 
From  this  vile  pole  to  fet  me  loofe ; 
Then  go  with  cautious  Heps  and  fteady. 
While  I  fleer  home  and  make  all  ready." 

END   OF   CANTO   Third. 


"7 


I  hear 


M'FINGAL : 


i 


CANTO       FOURTH, 


OR 

The  vision. 


Uvm 


r 


"^"OW  night  came  down,  and  rofe  full  foon 
That  patroncfs  of  rogues,  the  Moon ; 
Beneath  whofe  kind,  protc£ling  ray 
Wolves,  brute  and  human,  prowl  for  prey. 
The  honeft  world  all  fnored  in  chorus. 
While  owls,  and  ghofts  and  thieves  and  Tories, 
Whom  erft  the  mid-day  fun  had  aw*d. 
Crept  from  their  lurking  holes  abroad. 
On  cautious  hinges,  flow  and  ftiller 
Wide  oped  the  great  MTingaVs  cellar  ^ 
Where  Ihut  from  prying  eyes  in  clufter. 
The  Tory  Pandemonium "  mufter. 


Their 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


119 


IS, 


Their 


Their  chiefs  all  fitting  round  defcried  are. 
On  kegs  of  ale  and  feats  of  cyder ; 
When  firft  M'Fingal  dimly  feen 
Rofe  folemn  from  the  turnep-bin*. 
Nor  yet  his  form  had  wholly  loft 
The  original  brightnefs  it  could  boaft*. 
Nor  lefs  appeared  than  Juftice  Quorum, 
In  feather*d  majefty  before  *em*. 
Ad  own  his  tarftreak'd  vifage,  clear 
Fell  glift'ning  faft  th*  indignant  tear. 
And  thus  his  voice,  in  mournful  wife, 
Purfued  the  prologue  of  his  fighs. 

"  Brethren  and  friends,  the  glorious  band 
Of  loyalty  in  rebel  land  ! 
It  was  not  thus  youVe  feen  me  fitting 
Returned  in  triumph  from  town-meeting. 
When  bluftring  Whigs  were  put  to  ftand. 
And  votes  obey*d  my  guiding  hand. 
And  new  commiflions  pleas'd  my  eyes ; 
Bleft  days,  but  ah,  no  more  to  rife ! 
Alas,  againft  my  better  light 
And  optics  fure  of  fecond-fight". 


/"' 


My 


I20 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


ir  \i\\ 


ill 


My  ftubbom  foul  in  error  ftrong. 

Had  faith  in  Hutchinfon'  too  long. 

See  what  brave  trophies  ftill  we  bring 

From  all  our  battles  for  the  king ; 

And  yet  thefe  plagues  now  paft  before  us. 

Are  but  our  entring  wedge  of  forrows. 

I  fee  in  glooms  tempeftuous  (land 

The  cloud  impending  o'er  the  land ; 

That  cloud,  which  ftill  beyond  their  hopes 

Serves  all  our  orators  with  tropes. 

Which  tho*  from  our  own  vapors  fed. 

Shall  point  its  thunders  on  our  head  ! 

I  fee  the  Mob,  beflipp'd*  in  taverns. 

Hunt  us,  like  wolves,  thro'  wilds  and  caverns ! 

What  dungeons  rife  t*  alarm  our  fears. 

What  horfewhips  whiftle  round  our  ears ! 

Tar  yet  in  embryo  in  the  pine ' 

Shall  run,  on  Tories  backs  to  Ihine ; 

Trees  rooted  fair  in  groves  of  fallows 

Are  growing  for  our  future  gallows ; 

And  gcefe  unhatch'd,  when  pluck'd  in  fray. 

Shall  rue  the  feathering  of  that  day  ". 


For 


i  I  ■    ::!ll 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


121 


For 


For  me,  before  thcfc  fatal  days 
I  mean  to  fly  th*  accurfcd  place. 
And  follow  omens,  which  of  late 
Have  warned  me  of  impending  fate  ; 
Yet  pafs'd  unnoticed  o*er  my  view. 
Till  fad  convidlion  proved  them  true ; 
As  prophecies  of  beft  intent. 
Are  only  heeded  in  th*  event. 

For  late  in  vifions  of  the  night 
The  gallows  flood  before  my  light ; 
I  faw  its  ladder  heav*d  on  end ; 
I  faw  the  deadly  rope  defcend ; 
And  in  its  noofe  that  wav*ring  fwang. 
Friend  Malcolm"  hung,  or  feem*d  to  hang. 
How  changed  from  him,  who  bold  as  lyon. 
Stood  Aid-dc-Camp  to  Governor  Tryon, 
Made  rebels  vanifh  once,  like  witches. 
And  faved  his  Ufe,  but  dropp*d  his  breeches". 
I  fcarce  had  made  a  fearful  bow. 
And  trembling  aflc'd  him,  "  How  d*ye  do." 
When  lifting  up  his  eyes  fo  wide. 
His  eyes  alone^  his  hands  were  tied ; 


With 


122 


M'FiNG AL  : 


t 


CANTO 


8'.  'ii 


(M  I    ■^ 


r 


With  feeble  voice,  as  fpirits  u(e. 

Now  almoft  choak*d  with  gripe  of  noofc ; 

"  Ah  "  fly,  my  friend,  he  cried,  efcapc. 

And  keep  yourfelf  from  this  fad  fcrape ; 

Enough  youVe  talk'd  and  writ  and  plann'd ; 

The  Whigs  have  got  the  upper  hand. 

Dame  Fortune's  wheel  has  turn*d  fo  Ihort, 

It  plung'd  us  fairly  in  the  dirt ; 

Could  mortal  arm  our  fears  have  ended, 

This  arm  (and  shook  it)  had  defended. 

But  longer  now  'tis  vain  to  (lay ; 

See  ev'n  the  Regulars  run  away  : 

Wait  not  till  things  grow  defperater. 

For  hanging  is  no  laughing  matter  ; 

This  might  your  grandlires'  fortunes  tell  you  on 

Who  both  were  hang'd  the  laft  rebellion'*; 

Adventure  then  no  longer  ftay. 

But  call  your  friends  and  run  away. 

For  lo,  thro*  deepeft  glooms  of  night 

I  come  to  aid  thy  fccond-light, 

Difclofe  the  plagues  that  round  us  wait 

And  wake  the  dark  decrees  of  fate,         ' 


Afcend 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vis  ion. 


123 


Afcend  this  ladder  whence  unfurl*d 
The  curtain  opes  of  t'other  world. 
For  here  new  worlds  their  fcenes  unfold. 
Seen  from  this  backdoor  of  the  old  ". 
As  when  ^Eneas'"  rifqued  his  life. 
Like  Orpheus  venturing  for  his  wife  ", 
And  bore  in  fhow  his  mortal  carcafe. 
Thro'  realms  of  Erebus  and  Orcus  *% 
Then  in  the  happy  fields  Elyfian, 
Saw  all  his  embryon  fons  in  vifion  : 
As  Ihown  by  great  archangel,  Michael, 
Old  Adam  faw  the  world's  whole  fequel. 
And  from  the  mount's  extended  fpace. 
The  rifing  fortunes  of  his  race"; 
So  from  this  ftage  flialt  thou  behold, 
The  war  its  coming  fcenes  unfold, 
Rais'd  by  my  arm  to  meet  thine  eye ; 
My  Adam,  thou,  thine  Angel,  I. 
But  firft  my  pow'r  for  vifions  bright. 
Mull  cleanfe  from  clouds  thy  mental  fight. 
Remove  the  dim  fufFufions  fpread. 
Which  bribes  and  fal'ries  there  have  bred ; 


And 


¥ 


ill 


ill 


i 


i'!^ 


'i\m 


W":l 


124 


M  '  F  I  N  G  A  L  : 


[canto 


And  from  the  well  of  Bute  infufe. 
Three  genuine  drops  of  Highland  dews. 
To  purge,  like  euphrafy  and  rue"*'. 
Thine  eyes,  for  much  thou  haft  to  view. 

Now  freed  from  Tory  darknefs  raife 
Thy  head  and  fpy  the  coming  days ; 
For  lo  before  our  fecond-fight. 
The  Continent  afcends  in  light ; 
From  north  to  fouth  what  gath*ring  fwarms, 
Increafe  the  pride  of  rebel  arms  ! 
Thro*  ev'ry  State  our  legions  brave. 
Speed  gallant  marches  to  the  grave. 
Of  battling  Whigs  the  frequent  prize. 
While  rebel  trophies  ftain  the  fkies''^ 
Behold  o*er  northern  realms  afar. 
Extend  the  kindling  flames  of  war ! 
See  fam*d  St.  John's  and  Montreal, 
Doom*d  by  Montgomery's  arm  to  fall**^! 
Where  Hudfon  with  majeftic  fway. 
Thro'  hills  difparted  plows  his  way ; 
Fate  fpreads  on  Bemus'  Heights  alarms. 
And  pours  deftrudtion  on  our  arms''*; 


There 


[canto 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


125 


There  Bennington's  enfanguin'd  plain'*. 
And  Stony-Point,  the  prize  of  Wayne". 
Behold  near  DelVare's  icy  roar. 
Where  morning  dawns  on  Trenton's  fhorc. 
While  Heffians  fpread  their  Chriftmas  fcafts, 
Rufh  rude  thefe  uninvited  guefts ; 
Nor  aught  avail,  to  Whigs  a  prize. 
Their  martial  whifkers*  grifly  lize'*. 
On  Princeton  plains  our  heroes  yield. 
And  fpread  in  flight  the  vanquifh'd  field. 
While  fear  to  Mawhood*s  heels  puts  on 
Wings,  wide  as  worn  by  Maia*s  fon". 
Behold  the  Pennfylvanian  fhore, 
Enrich*d  with  ftreams  of  Britilh  gore^^; 
Where  many  a  vet'ran  chief  in  bed 
Of  honor  refts  his  flumbring  head. 
And  in  foft  vales  in  land  of  foes. 
Their  wearied  virtue  finds  repole  **. 
See  plund*ring  Dunmore's  negro  band 
Fly  headlong  from  Virginia's  flrand  ^'^ ; 
And  far  on  fouthern  hills  our  coulins. 
The  Scotch  McDonalds  fall  by  dozens  ^' ; 


There 


Or 


i  ( 


'■:  n 


;iT 


U'  ■■■  • 

-I  ■■  i        ■       ■ 

■  ■     .    :  I 

ji  „" 

r  -, : 


126 


M'FiNG  al: 


Or  where  King's  Mountain  lifts  its  head. 
Our  ruin'd  bands  in  triumph  led^M 
Behold  o*er  Tarlton*s  bluft*ring  train, 
The  Rebels  ftretch  the  captive  chain  ^' ! 
Afar  near  Eutaw*s  fatal  fprings 
Defcending  Vift'ry  fpreads  her  wings  ^* ! 
Thro'  all  the  land  in  various  chace. 
We  hunt  the  rainbow  of  fuccefs ; 
In  vain  !  their  Chief  fuperior  ftill 
Eludes  our  force  with  Fabian  fkill  ^\ 
Or  fwift  defcending  by  furprize. 
Like  Pruffia's  eagle  fweeps  the  prize." 

I  look'd,  nor  yet,  oppreft  with  fears. 
Gave  credit  to  my  eyes  or  ears. 
But  held  the  views  an  empty  dream. 
On  Berkley's  immaterial  fcheme  ^' ; 
And  pondring  fad  with  troubled  breaft 
At  length  my  rifmg  doubts  exprefs'd. 
"  Ah  whither,  thus  by  rebels  fmitten. 
Is  fled  th'  omnipotence  of  Britain  ^\ 
Or  fail'd  its  ufual  guard  to  keep. 
Gone  truanting  or  fall'n  afleep ; 


[canto 


As 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


127 


As  Baal  his  prophets  left  confounded. 

And  bawling  votaries  gafh'd  and  wounded  '^  ? 

Did  not,  retired  to  bow'rs  Elyfian, 

Great  Mars  leave  with  her  his  conimiflion. 

And  Neptune  erft  in  treaty  free. 

Give  up  dominion  o'er  the  fea^^? 

Elfe  where*s  the  faith  of  famed  orations ''°, 

Addrefs,  debate  and  proclamations. 

Or  courtly  fermon,  laureat  ode. 

And  ballads  on  the  watry  God  ^* ; 

With  whofe  high  flrains  great  George  enriches 

His  eloquence  of  gracious  fpecches*'^? 

Not  faithful  to  our  Highland  eyes, 

Thefe  deadly  forms  of  vilion  rife ; 

But  fure  fome  Whig-infpiring  fprite 

Now  palms  delufion  on  our  fight. 

Fd  fcarcely  trull  a  tale  fo  vain. 

Should  revelation  prompt  the  ftrain. 

Or  Offian*s  ghoft  the  fcenes  rehearfe. 

In  all  the  melody  of  Erfe."^=* 


/ 


As 


"  Too  long,  quoth  Malcolm,  with  confufion 
YouVe  dwelt  already  in  delufion. 


As 


s 


128 


i' 


'  t 

¥ 


■Jill 


^ 


!■!■ 
,1' 


li.l  fc'ii 
r;  i  u!|.i>". 

Ill  :'iM  V 


;):>   •' 


1'     .1, 


:  ?i'i-'i 


M'FlNGAL ; 


[canto 


As  Sceptics,  of  all  fools  the  chief. 

Hold  faith  in  creeds  of  unbelief. 

I  come  to  draw  thy  veil  a  fide 

Of  error,  prejudice  and  pride. 

Fools  love  deception,  but  the  wife 

Prefer  fad  truths  to  pleafing  lies. 

For  know  thofe  hopes  can  ne'er  fuccced 

That  trull  on  Britain's  breaking  reed. 

For  weak*ning  long  from  bad  to  worfc 

By  fatal  atrophy  of  purfe. 

She  feels  at  length  with  trembling  heart. 

Her  foes  have  found  her  mortal  part. 

As  famed  Achilles,  dipped  by  Thetis 

In  Styx,  as  fung  in  antient  ditties, 

Grew  all  cafeharden'd  o'er  like  (leel. 

Invulnerable,  fave  his  heel**. 

And  laugh'd  at  fwords  and  fpcars,  as  fquibs. 

And  all  difeafes,  but  the  kibes"; 

Yet  met  at  laft  his  fatal  wound. 

By  Paris'  arrow  nail'd  to  ground**: 

So  Britain's  boafted  ftrength  defcrts, 

In  thefe  her  empire's  utmoft  flcirts. 


Remov'd 


FOURTH.] 


The  V  I  s  I orf. 


129 


Removed  beyond  her  fierce  impreflions. 
And  atmofphere  of  omniprcfcncc ; 
Nor  to    hcfe  fhores  remoter  ends. 
Her  dwarf  omnipotence  extends : 
Whence  in  this  turn  of  things  fo  ftrange, 
*Tis  time  our  principles  to  change. 
For  vain  that  boafted  faith,  which  gathers 
No  perquilite,  but  tar  and  feathers. 
No  pay,  but  Whig's  infulting  malice. 
And  no  promotion,  but  the  gallows. 
IVe  long  enough  flood  firm  and  fteady. 
Half  hang*d  for  loyalty  already  : 
And  could  I  fave  my  neck  and  pelf 
I'd  turn  a  flaming  Whig  myfclf. 
And  quit  this  caufe  and  courfe  and  calling. 
Like  rats  that  fly  from  houfe  that's  falling. 
But  fmce,  obnoxious  here  to  fate. 
This  faving  wifdom  comes  too  late. 
Our  nobleft  hopes  already  croft. 
Our  fal'ries  gone,  our  titles  loft, 
Doom'd  to  worfe  fuff^'rings  from  the  mob 


Than  Satan's  iurg'ries  ufed  on  Job 


47 


Lemov'd 


What 


I30 


M*FlNG  AL  : 


[canto 


'  !«■.! 


m  M 


^» 


What  more  remains  but  now  with  fleight. 
What's  left  of  us  to  fave  by  flight  ? 

Now  raife  thine  eyes  for  vifions  true 
Again  afcending  wait  thy  view." 
I  look'd  and  clad  in  early  light, 
T\  e  Ipires  of  Bofton  rofe  to  fight ; 
The  morn  o*er  eaflern  hills  afar, 
Illum*d  the  varying  fcenes  of  war. 
Great  Howe  had  long  fince  in  the  lap 
Of  Loring  taken  out  his  nap. 
And  with  the  fun*s  afcending  ray. 
The  cuckold  came  to  take  his  pay*®. 
When  all  th'  encircling  hills  around. 
With  inflantaneous  breaflworks  crown'd. 
With  pointed  thunders  met  his  fight. 
By  magic  rear'd  the  former  night. 
Each  fummit,  far  as  eye  commands. 
Shone  peopled  with  rebellious  bands**. 
Aloft  their  tow'ring  heroes  rife. 
As  Titans  erft  afTail'd  the  fkies'''. 
Leagued  with  fuperior  force  to  prove. 
The  fcepter'd  hand  of  Britifh  Jove. 


Mounds 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


131 


Mounds  piled  on  hills  afcended  fair 
With  batteries  placed  in  middle  air. 
That  rais'd  like  angry  clouds  on  high 
Scem'd  like  th*  artiU'ry  of  the  fky. 
And  hurl'd  their  fiery  bolts  amain. 
In  thunder  on  the  trembling  plain. 
I  faw  along  the  proftrate  ftrand. 
Our  baffled  Generals  quit  the  land. 
And  fwift  as  frighted  mermaids  flee, 
T*  our  boafted  element,  the  fea  "  I 
Refign  that  long  contefted  fliore. 
Again  the  prize  of  rebel-power. 
And  toward  their  town  of  refuge  fly. 
Like  convift  Jews  condemned  to  die". 

Then  tow'rd  the  north,  I  turn*d  my  eyes. 
Where  Saratoga's  heights  a  rife. 
And  faw  our  chofen  veteran  band, 
Defcend  in  terror  o*er  the  land  ^ ; 
T*  oppofe  this  fury  of  alarms. 
Saw  all  New-England  wake  to  arms. 
And  ev*ry  Yanky  full  of  mettle, 
Swarm  forth,  like  bees  at  found  of  kettle  '*. 


[ounds 


Not 


m 


I 


ill 


v 

I 


m 


it 


I'^i 


i   M- 


!!^  :!l 


132 


M'FiNOAL : 


[canto 


Not  Rome,  when  Tarquin  raped  Lucretia", 
Saw  wilder  muft'ring  of  militia. 
Thro*  all  the  woods  and  plains  of  fight. 
What  mortal  battles  fill'd  my  fight. 
While  Britifli  corfes  ftrcw'd  the  fhore. 
And  Hudfon  ting*d  his  ftrcams  with  gore  ! 
What  tongue  can  tell  the  difmal  day. 
Or  paint  the  party-color*d  fray ; 
When  yeomen  left  their  fields  afar. 
To  plow  the  crimfon  plains  of  war  5 
When  zeal  to  (words  transformed  their  fhares. 
And  turn*d  their  pruning-hooks  to  fpears. 
Changed  tailor's  geefe  to  guns  and  ball. 
And  ftretch*d  to  pikes  the  cobler*s  awl^®; 
While  hunters  fierce  like  mighty  Nimrod, 
Made  on  our  troops  a  daring  inroad ; 
And  levelling  fquint  on  barrel  round, 
brought  our  beau-officers  to  ground  " ; 
A''hile  rifle-frocks  fent  Gen'rals  capering. 
And  redcoats  fhrunk  from  leathern  apron. 
And  epaulette  and  gorget  run 
From  whinyard  brown  and  rufty  gun  :  v 


While 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


>33 


While 


While  funbumt  wigs  in  high  command, 
Ru(h  furious  on  our  frighted  band. 
And  antient  beards  and  hoary  hair. 
Like  meteors  ftream  in  troubled  air  *®. 
With  locks  unfliorn  not  Samfon  more 
Made  ufelefs  all  the  fliow  of  war. 
Nor  fought  with  afles*  jaw  for  ranty. 
With  more  fuccefs  or  fingularity^'. 
I  faw  our  vet*ran  thoufands  yield 
And  pile  their  mufkets  on  the  field. 
And  peafant  guards  in  rueful  plight 
March  off  our  captured  bands  from  fight ; 
While  ev*ry  rebel-fife  in  play. 
To  Yanky-doodle  tun'd  its  lay. 
And  like  the  mufic  of  the  fpheres. 
Mellifluous  footh'd  their  vanquifh'd  ears®". 

"  Alas,  faid  I,  what  baleful  ftar. 
Sheds  fatal  influence  on  the  war. 
And  who  that  chofen  Chief  of  fame. 
That  heads  this  grand  parade  of  fliame  ? " 

."  There  fee  how  fate,  great  Malcolm  cried. 
Strikes  with  its  bolts  the  tow*rs  of  pride. 


Behold 


■'IM 


ll 


(:;■ 


s.l.l. 


'^(i  ri' 


d « 


■■It?" 'I 


"liUIM-iil 


ts! 


i)i  i! 


■Vi 


ill 


1! 


!i 


si' 


'3+ 


M'FlNGAL  : 


Behold  that  martial  Macaroni", 
Compound  of  Phcebus  and  Bellona**, 
With  warlike  fword  and  fingfong  lay, 
Equipp*d  alike  for  feaft  or  fray. 
Where  equal  wit  and  ,  alour  join  ; 
This,  this  is  he,  the  famed  Burgoyne*'': 
Who  pawn*d  his  honor  and  commiflion. 
To  coax  the  Patriots  to  fubmifTion, 
By  fongs  and  balls  fecure  obedience. 
And  dance  the  ladies  to  allegiance^*. 
Oft  his  camp  mufes  he'll  parade. 
At  Bofton  in  the  grand  blockade. 
And  well  invoked  with  punch  of  arrack. 
Hold  converfe  fweet  in  tent  or  barrack, 
Infpired  in  more  heroic  falhion. 
Both  by  his  theme  and  fituation  ; 
While  farce  and  proclamation  grand. 
Rife  fair  beneath  his  plaftic  hand*'. 
For  genius  fwells  more  ftrong  and  clear 
When  clofe  confined,  like  bottled  beer : 
So  Prior's  wit  gain*d  greater  pow*r. 
By  infpiration  of  the  tow*r  ** ; 


[canto 


And 


i  i ' 


:anto 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


And  Raleigh  fall  in  prifon  hurl'd 

Wrote  all  the  hift'ry  of  the  world": 

So  Wilkes  grew,  while  in  goal  he  lay. 

More  patriotic  ev'ry  day. 

But  found  his  zeal,  when  not  confin'd. 

Soon  fink  below  the  freezing  point. 

And  public  fpirit  once  fo  fair. 

Evaporate  in  open  air  *'. 

But  thou,  great  fj»vorite  of  Venus, 

By  no  fuch  luck  (halt  cramp  thy  genius ; 

Thy  friendly  ftars  till  wars  Ihall  ceafe. 

Shall  ward  th*  illfortune  of  releafe. 

And  hold  thee  faft  in  bonds  not  feeble. 

In  good  condition  flill  to  fcribble. 

Such  merit  fate  fhall  fliield  from  firing. 

Bomb,  carcafe,  langridge  and  cold  iron. 

Nor  trufls  thy  doubly  laureird  head. 

To  rude  aflaults  of  flying  lead. 

Hence  in  this  Saratogue  retreat. 

For  pure  good  fortune  thou*lt  be  beat ; 

Nor  taken  oft,  released  or  refcued, 

Pafs  for  fmall  change,  like  fimple  Prefcott  *' ; 


>3S 


And 


But 


lH'l 


136 


M'FlNGAL   : 


[ 


CANTO 


But  captured  there,  as  fates  befall, 
Shalt  ftand  thy  hand  for*t,  once  for  all. 
Then  raife  thy  daring  thoughts  fublime. 
And  dip  thy  conq*ring  pen  in  rhyme, 
nd  changing  war  for  puns  and  jokes. 
Write  new  Blockades  and  Maids  of  Oaks."  '• 


This  faid,  he  turn'd,  and  faw  the  talc, 
Had  dyed  my  trembling  checks  with  pale ; 
Then  pitying  in  a  milder  vein 
Purfued  the  vifionary  llrain. 


!< 


li      i; 


"  Too  much  perhaps  hath  pain*d  your  views 
Of  vift*ries  gain'd  by  rebel  crews ; 
Now  fee  the  deeds  not  foiall  or  fcanty, 
Of  Britifli  Valor  and  Humanity ; 
And  learn  from  this  aufpicious  fight. 
How  England's  fons  and  friends  can  fight ; 
In  what  dread  fcenes  their  courage  grows. 
And  how  they  conquer  all  their  foes," 


I  look'd  and  faw  in  wintry  fkics 
Our  ipacious  prison-walls  arife. 


Whe 


re 


CANTO 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


Where  Britons  all  their  captives  taming. 

Plied  them  with  fcourging,  cold  and  famine ; 

Reduced  to  life's  concluding  ftages. 

By  noxious  food  and  plagues  contagious. 

Aloft  the  mighty  Loring  flood. 

And  thrived,  like  Vampyre,  on  their  blood. 

And  counting  all  his  gains  arifmg. 

Dealt  daily  rations  out  of  poifon. 

Amid  the  dead  that  croud  the  fcene. 

The  moving  fkeletons  were  feen". 

At  hand  our  troops  in  vaunting  ftrains, 

Infulted  all  their  wants  and  pains. 

And  turned  on  all  the  dying  tribe. 

The  bitter  taunt  and  fcornful  gibe : 

And  Britifh  officers  of  might. 

Triumphant  at  the  joyful  fight, 

0*er  foes  difarm*d  with  courage  daring, 

Exhaufted  all  their  tropes  of  fwearing. 

Around  all  ftain'd  with  rebel  blood. 


Like  Milton's  lazar  houfe  it  flood 


73 


Where  grim  Defpair  attended  nurfe. 
And  Death  was  Gov'rnor  of  the  houfe. 


137 


W^here 


Amaz'd 


'38 


M*  F  ING  AL  : 


[canto 


.Miijl-i''-'"^' 


M/^  ., 


ill 


ill 


^'i; 


*-:^ 


Amaz*d  I  cried,  "  Is  this  the  way. 

That  Britifh  Valour  wins  the  day  ? " 

More  had  I  faid,  in  Ilrains  unwelcome. 

Till  interrupted  thus  by  Malcolm : 

"  Blame  not,  quoth  he,  but  learn  the  reafon 

Of  this  new  mode  of  conq'ring  treafbn. 

*Tis  but  a  wife,  politic  plan. 

To  root  out  all  the  rebel-clan  ; 

(For  furely  treafon  ne*er  can  thrive. 

Where  not  a  foul  is  left  alive  :) 

A  fcheme,  all  other  chiefs  to  furpafs. 

And  to  do  th*  efFeftual  work  to  purpofe. 

For  war  itfelf  is  nothing  further. 

But  th*  art  and  myftery  of  murther'^ 

And  who  moft  methods  has  eflay'd. 

Is  the  bell  Gen'ral  of  the  trade. 

And  ftands  Death's  Plenipotentiary, 

To  conquer,  poifon,  ftarve  and  bury. 

This  Howe  well  knew,  and  thus  began, 

(Deipiling  Carlton's  coaxing  plan, 

"Who  kept  his  prisoners  well  and  merry. 

And  dealt  them  food  like  Commifiary,      \ 


And 


'r 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


139 


And  by  paroles  and  ranfoms  vain, 
Difmifs*d  them  all  to  fight  again  :)'■* 
Whence  his  firft  captives  with  great  fpirit. 
He  tied^  up  for  his  troops  to  fire  at". 
And  hoped  they'd  learn  on  foes  thus  taken. 
To  aim  at  rebels  without  (haking. 
Then  wife  in  ftratagem  he  plann*d 
The  fure  deftrudlion  of  the  land, 
Turn*d  famine,  ficknefs  and  defpair. 
To  ufeful  enginry  of  war, 
Inftead  of  cannon,  mufket,  mortar, 
Ufed  peftilence  and  death  and  torture. 
Sent  forth  the  fmall  pox  and  the  greater'*. 
To  thin  the  land  of  ev*ry  traitor. 
And  ordered  out  with  like  endeavour. 
Detachments  of  the  prifon-fever"; 
Spread  defolation  o'er  their  head. 
And  plagues  in  Providence's  ftead, 
Perform'd  with  equal  flcill  and  beauty, 
Th*  avenging  angel's  tour  of  duty. 
Brought  all  the  elements  to  join. 
And  ftars  t'  affift  the  great  defign. 


And 


As 


!■ 


I 

'ii 


■]'■ 


i," 


i 


ill 

11!  »•'■ 


1 

'I 


■'',« 


sir 'Ml 


•Mi: 


%% 


h  i 


IM 


lilt!" 


140 


M*FiNO  al: 


As  once  in  league  with  Ki(hon*s  brook. 
Famed  Ifrael's  foes  they  fought  and  took"". 
Then  proud  to  raife  a  glorious  name. 
And  em'lous  of  his  country's  fame. 
He  bade  thefe  prison-walls  arife. 
Like  temple  tow*ring  to  the  flcies. 
Where  Britifli  Clemency  rcnown*d. 
Might  fix  her  feat  on  facred  ground ; 
(That  Virtue,  as  each  herald  faith. 
Of  whole  blood  kin  to  Punic  Faith) " 
Where  all  her  Godlike  pow*rs  unveiling. 
She  finds  a  grateful  fhrine  to  dwell  in. 
Then  at  this  altar  for  her  honor, 
Chofe  this  Highprieft  to  wait  upon  her. 
Who  with  juft  rites,  in  antient  guifes, 
Prefents  thefe  human  facrifices ; 
Great  Loring,  famed  above  laymen, 
A  proper  Prieft  for  Lybian  Ammon, 
Who,  while  Howe's  gift  his  brows  adorns. 
Had  match'd  that  deity  in  horns^. 
Here  ev'ry  day  her  vot'ries  tell 
She  more  devours  than  th*  idol  Bel  ^' ; 


[canto 


And 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


141 


And  thirfts  more  rav'noufly  for  gore. 

Than  any  worfhipp'd  Pow'r  before. 

That  antient  Heathen  Godhead,  Moloch, 

Oft  ftay*d  his  ftomach  with  a  bullock. 

Or  if  his  morning  rage  you'd  check  firft. 

One  child  fufficed  him  for  a  breakfaft^^; 

But  Britifh  Clemency  with  zeal 

Devours  her  hundreds  at  a  meal. 

Right  well  by  Nat*ralifts  defined, 

A  Being  of  carnivorous  kind. 

So  erft  Gargantua  pleas'd  his  palate. 

And  eat  his  pilgrims  up  for  fallad^^ 

Not  bleft  with  m'.vv  lefs  ceremonious. 

The  wide-mouth'd  whale  that  fwallow'd  Jonas"; 

Like  earthquake  gapes,  to  death  devote. 

That  open  fepulchre,  her  throat ; 

The  grave,  or  barren  womb  you'd  fluff. 

And  fooner  bring  to  cry,  enough ; 

Or  fatten  up  to  fair  condition. 

The  leanflefh'd  kine  of  Pharaoh's  vifion^^ 


And 


Behold  her  temple  where  it  ftands 
Ereft  by  famed  Britannic  hands ; 


»Ti8 


142 


M'FiNOAL : 


[canto 


iiilH*^"    ' 


't   . 


'    '\ 


s '. 


i'l 


I        ' 


*Tis  the  blackholc  of  Indian  llrudlurc, 

New-built  with  Englifh  architcdlurc, 

On  plan,  *tis  faid,  contrived  and  wrote. 

By  Clive,  before  he  cut  his  throat "" ; 

Who  ere  he  took  himfelf  in  hand. 

Was  her  Highpriell  in  Nabob-land  "  : 

And  when  with  conq*ring  glory  crown'd, 

He*d  well  enflav'd  the  nation  round. 

With  pitying  heart  the  gen'rous  chief, 

(Since  flav*ry's  worfe  than  lofs  of  life) 

Bade  defolation  circle  far. 

And  famine  end  the  work  of  war  ; 

Thus  loofed  their  chains  and  for  their  merits, 

Difmifs*d  them  free  to  worlds  of  fnlrits : 

A 

Whence  they  with  gratitude  and  praife. 
Returned  to  attend  his  latter  days. 
And  hov*ring  round  his  rcftlcfs  bed. 
Spread  nightly  vifions  o*cr  his  head'"'. 

"  Now  turn,  he  cried,  to  nobler  fights. 
And  mark  the  prowefs  of  our  fights : 
Behold  like  whelps  of  Britifli  Lyon, 
The  warriors,  Clinton,  Vaughan  and  Tryon  ^^ 


March 


t\i.'\\ 


FOURTH.] 


The   V is lOK, 


'43 


March  forth  with  patriotic  joy. 

To  ravifh,  plunder,  burn,  dcllroy. 

Great  Gcn*rals  foremofl:  in  the  nation. 

The  journeymen  of  Defolation  ! 

Like  Samfon's  foxes  each  affails. 

Let  loofe  with  firebrands  in  their  tails. 

And  fpreads  destruction  more  forlorn. 

Than  they  did  in  Philiftinc  corn'". 

And  fee  in  flames  their  triumphs  rife. 

Illuming  all  the  nether  fkies. 

And  ftreaming,  like  a  new  Aurora, 

The  weftern  hemifphere  with  glory  ! 

What  towns  in  afhes  kid  confefs 

Thefe  heroes*  prowefs  and  fuccefs ! 

What  blackened  walls,  or  burning  fane. 

For  trophies  fpread  the  ruin*d  plain  ! 

What  females  caught  in  evil  hour. 

By  force  fubmit  to  Britifli  power. 

Or  plunder*d  Negroes  in  difafler 

Confefs  king  George  their  lord  and  mailer ! 

What  crimfon  corfes  ftrew  their  way 

Till  fmoaking  carnage  dims  the  day  ! 


Along 


i44 


M  '  F  I  N  G  A  L  : 


[canto 


iIl.  t 


\5 


Along  the  fliore  for  fure  redudlion 
They  wield  their  befom  of  deftru6lion. 
Great  Homer  likens,  in  his  Ilias, 
To  dogftar  bright  the  fierce  Achilles ; 
But  ne'er  beheld  in  red  proceffion. 
Three  dogftars  rife  in  conftellation ; 
Or  faw  in  glooms  of  evening  mifty. 
Such  /igns  of  fiery  triplicity. 
Which  far  beyond  the  comet's  tail. 
Portend  deftrudlion  where  they  fail  '\ 
Oh  had  Great-Britain's  godlike  Ihore, 
Produced  but  ten  fuch  heroes  more. 
They'd  fpared  the  pains  and  held  the  flation. 
Of  this  world's  final  conflagration. 
Which  when  its  time  comes,  at  a  ftand. 
Would  find  its  work  all  done  t'  its  hand ! 


Yet  tho'  gay  hopes  our  eyes  may  blefs ; 
Indignant  fate  forbids  fuccefs ; 
Like  morning  dreams  our  conqueft  flies, 
Difperf'd  before  the  dawn  arife." 


Here 


■I f  f 

I    i.  5     1 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


HS 


Here 


Here  Malcolm  paus'd  ;  when  pondVing  long. 

Grief  thus  gave  utterance  to  my  tongue. 

"  Where  fhrink  in  fear  our  friends  difmay'd. 

And  all  the  Tories'  promis'd  aid. 

Can  none  amid  thefe  fierce  alarms, 

Affift  the  pow*r  of  royal  arms  ? " 

"  In  vain,  he  cried,  our  king  depends. 

On  promis'd  aid  of  Tory-friends ". 

When  our  own  efforts  want  fuccefs. 

Friends  ever  fail  as  fears  increafe. 

As  leaves  in  blooming  verdure  wove. 

In  warmth  of  fummer  cloath  the  grove. 

But  when  autumnal  frofts  arife. 

Leave  bare  their  trunks  to  wintry  flcies ; 

So  while  your  pow'r  can  aid  their  ends. 

You  ne'er  can  need  ten  thoufand  friends. 

But  once  in  want  by  foes  difmay'd. 

May  advertife  them  ftol'n  or  ftray'd. 

Thus  ere  Great-Britain's  ftrength  grew  flack. 

She  gain'd  that  aid,  fhe  did  not  lack. 

But  now  in  dread,  imploring  pity. 

All  hear  unmov'd  her  dol'rous  ditty  ; 

Allegiance 


H 


1 

lif 


ti^ 


;i  i ' 


Hi 


Mi 


m 
m 

11 


:-«i  f 


m 


m 


^!li:i 


II 


■SN 


146 


M'FiNOAL : 


[canto 


Alle^ance  wand'ring  turns  aftray. 
And  Faith  grows  dim  for  lack  of  pay 
In  vain  fhe  tries  by  new  inventions. 
Fear,  falfhood,  flatt'ry,  threats  and  penlions. 
Or  fends  Commifs'ners  with  credentials 
Of  promifes  and  penitentials'*. 
As  for  his  fare  o*er  Styx  of  old. 
The  Trojan  ftole  the  bough  of  gold. 
And  leaft  grim  Cerberus  ihould  make  head, 
Stuff'd  both  his  fobs  with  gingerbread  ^*j 
Behold  at  Britain's  utmoft  Ihifts, 
Comes  Johnflone  loaded  with  like  gifts. 
To  venture  thro*  the  Whiggiih  tribe. 
To  cuddle,  wheedle,  coax  and  bribe'". 
Enter  their  lands  and  on  his  journey, 
Pofleffion  take,  as  King's  Attorney, 
Buy  all  the  vaflals  to  protcft  him. 
And  bribe  the  tenants  not  t'  ejeft  him  ; 
And  call  to  aid  his  dcfp'rate  miHion, 
His  petticoated  politician, 
Wliile  Venus  joined  t*  aflift  the  farce. 
Strolls  forth  Embafladrefs  for  Mars^. 


Tn 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


'47 


In  vain  he  ftrives,  for  while  he  lingers, 
Thefe  maftifFs  bite  his  off'ring  lingers ; 
Nor  buys  for  George  and  realms  infernal. 
One  fpaniel,  but  the  mongrel  Arnold". 

"  'Twere  vain  to  paint  in  vifion'd  Ihow, 
The  mighty  nothings  done  by  Howe ; 
What  towns  he  takes  in  mortal  fray. 
As  ftations,  whence  to  run  away ; 
What  conquefts  gain*d  in  battles  warm, 
'^'o  as  no  aid,  to  them  no  harm ; 
.'y.'  till  the  event  alike  is  fatal, 
What*er  fuccefs  attend  the  battle. 
If  he  gain  vidlory,  or  lofe  it. 
Who  ne'er  had  fkill  enough  to  ufe  it  '^ ; 
And  better  'twere  at  their  expence, 
T'  have  drubb'd  him  into  common  fenie. 
And  wak*d  by  ballings  on  his  rear, 
Th'  aftivity,  tho*  but  of  fear. 
By  flow  advance  his  arms  prevail. 
Like  emblematic  march  of  fnail ; 
That  be  Millennium  nigh  or  far, 
*Twould  long  before  him  end  the  war. 


In 


From 


148 


M'FlNGAL  : 


[canto 


r: 


i- 


(\i  < 


I:      ,i' 


From  York  to  Philadelphian  ground. 
He  fvveeps  the  mighty  flourifh  round, 
Wheel*d  circ*lar  by  excentric  ftars. 
Like  racing  boys  at  prifon-bars. 
Who  take  the  adverfe  crew  in  whole. 
By  running  round  the  oppTite  goal ; 
Works  wide  the  traverfe  of  his  courfe. 
Like  fhip  in  ftorms'  oppofmg  force. 
Like  millhorfe  circling  in  his  race. 
Advances  not  a  fingle  pace. 
And  leaves  no  trophies  of  reduftion. 
Save  that  of  canker  worms,  deftrudlion. 
Thus  having  long  both  countries  curft. 
He  quits  them,  as  he  found  them  firfl. 
Steers  home  difgraced,  of  little  worth. 
To  join  Burgoyne  and  rail  at  North  ^^ 

Now  raife  thine  eyes,  and  view  with  pleafure,  ' 
The  triumphs  of  his  famed  fucceflbr."  ^'"* 
[  look*d,  and  now  by  magic  lore. 
Faint  rofe  to  view  the  Jerfey  Ihore ; 
But  dimly  feen,  in  glooms  array'd. 
For  Night  had  pour'd  her  fable  Ihade, 


And 


;'*i 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


149 


And  ev*ry  ftar,  with  glimm'rings  pale. 
Was  muffled  deep  in  ev*ning  veil : 
Scarce  vifiblc  in  duflcy  night. 
Advancing  redcoats  rofc  to  fight ; 
The  lengthened  train  in  gleaming  rows 
Stole  filent  from  their  flumb*ring  foes. 
Slow  moved  the  baggage  and  the  train. 
Like  fnail  crept  noifelefs  o*er  the  plain ; 
No  trembling  foldier  dared  to  fpeak. 
And  not  a  wheel  prefum*d  to  creak  ^"^ 
My  looks  my  new  furprize  confefs*d 
Till  by  great  Malcolm  thus  addrefs*d  :  ** 
"  Spend  not  thy  wits  in  vain  refearches ; 
*Tis  one  of  Clinton's  moonlight  marches. 
From  Philadelphia  now  retreating. 
To  fave  his  anxious  troops  a  beating. 
With  hafty  ftride  he  flies  in  vain. 
His  rear  attacked  on  Monmouth  plain  : 
With  various  chance  the  mortal  fray 
Is  lengthened  to  the  clofe  of  day. 
When  his  tired  bands  o'ermatch'd  in  fight. 
Are  refcued  by  dcfccnding  night  ^"'^ ; 


And 


He 


ISO 


M'FlNGAL 


[canto 


He  forms  his  camp  with  vain  parade. 

Till  evening  fpreads  the  world  with  (hade, 

Then  ftill,  hke  fome  endangered  fpark. 

Steals  off  on  tiptoe  in  the  dark ; 

Yet  writes  his  king  in  boafting  tone. 

How  grand  he  march*d  by  light  of  moon  '^. 

I  fee  him ;  but  thou  canft  not ;  proud 

He  leads  in  front  the  trembling  croud, 

And  wifely  knows,  if  danger's  near, 

'Twill  fall  the  hcavieft  on  his  rear  ^^  , 

Go  on,  great  Gen'ral,  nor  regard 

The  feoffs  of  ev'ry  fcribling  Bard, 

Who  ling  how  Gods  that  fatal  night 

Aided  by  miracles  your  flight. 

As  once  they  ufed,  in  Homer's  day. 

To  help  weak  heroes  run  away  ; 

Tell  how  the  hours  at  awful  trial. 

Went  back,  as  erft  on  Ahaz*  dial. 

While  Britifh  Jofliua  ftay'd  the  moon. 

On  Monmouth  plains  for  Ajalon  : 

Heed  not  their  fneers  and  gibes  fo  arch, 

Becaufe  flie  fet  before  your  march  "*',  ^ 


A  fmall 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


«S» 


A  Imall  miilake,  your  meaning  right. 
You  take  her  influence  for  her  light ; 
Her  influence,  which  fliall  be  your  guide. 
And  o*er  your  Gen'ralfliip  preflde. 
Hence  ftill  fliall  teem  your  empty  fkull. 
With  vift*ries  when  the  moon's  at  full. 
Which  by  tranfition  yet  more  ftrange. 
Wane  to  defeats  before  the  change  ; 
Hence  all  your  m~vements,  all  your  notions 
Shall  fleer  by  like  excentric  motions, 
Eclips*d  in  many  a  fatal  crifis. 
And  dimm'd  when  Wafhington  arifes. 
And  fee  how  Fate,  herfelf  turn*d  traitor. 
Inverts  the  antient  courfe  of  nature. 
And  changes  manners,  tempers,  climes. 
To  fuit  the  genius  of  the  times. 
See  Bourbon  forms  his  gen'rous  plan, 
Firfl  guardian  of  the  rights  of  man. 
And  prompt  in  firm  alliance  joins. 
To  aid  the  Rebels  proud  defigns '°". 
Behold  from  realms  of  eaftern  day. 
His  fails  innum'rous  fhape  their  way. 


Ill 


152 


M'FiNG AL : 


[canto 


^m' 


:\,\ 


i:! 


,  ;  t- 


k'       il 


In  warlike  line  the  billows  fweep. 

And  roll  the  thunders  of  the  deep  "'. 

See  low  in  equinodlial  fkies. 

The  Weftern  Iflands  fall  their  prize  ^*'% 

See  Britifh  flags  o*ermatch*d  in  might. 

Put  all  their  faith  in  inftant  flight. 

Or  broken  fquadrons  from  th'  affray. 

Drag  flow  their  wounded  hulks  away. 

Behold  his  chiefs  in  daring  fetts, 

D'Eftaings  ''\  De  Grafles ""  and  Fayettes '", 

Spread  thro'  our  camps  their  dread  alarms. 

And  fwell  the  fears  of  rebel-arms. 

Yet  ere  our  empire  fink  in  night. 

One  gleam  of  hope  fliall  ftrike  the  fight ; 

As  lamps  that  fail  of  oil  and  fire, 

Colledl  one  glimmering  to  expire. 

And  lo  where  fouthern  ftiores  extend. 

Behold  our  union*d  hofts  defcend. 

Where  Charleftown  views  with  varying  beams. 

Her  turrets  gild  th*  encircling  ftreams. 

There  by  fuperior  might  compell'd. 

Behold  their  gallant  Lincoln  yield,  v 


Nor 


ANTO 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


'53 


Nor  aught  tlie  wreaths  avail  him  now, 

Pluck'd  from  Burgoyne's  imperious  brow'". 

See  furious  from  the  vanquifh*d  ftrand, 

Cornwallis  leads  his  mighty  band  ! 

The  (buthern  realms  and  Georgian  Ihore 

Submit  and  own  the  viftor's  pow'r, 

Lo,  funk  before  his  wafting  way. 

The  Carolinas  fall  his  prey*''! 

In  vain  embattled  hofts  of  foes 

ElTay  in  warring  ftrife  t*  oppofe. 

See  fhrinking  from  his  conq*ring  eye. 

The  rebel  legions  fall  or  fly  "* ; 

And  withering  in  thefe  torrid  Ikies, 

The  northern  laurel  fades  and  dies "". 

With  rapid  force  he  leads  his  band 

To  fair  Virginia's  fated  ftrand. 

Triumphant  eyes  the  travelled  zone. 

And  boafts  the  fouthern  realms  his  own  "®, 

Nor  yet  this  hero's  glories  bright 

Blaze  only  in  the  fields  of  fight ; 

Not  Howe's  humanity  more  deferving. 

In  gifts  of  hanging  and  of  ftarving ; 


Nor 


Not 


^i     .•■! 


154 


M'FiNGAL  : 


[canto 


:)   ,     ''I 


f  •!         ! 


••■-■M 


Not  Arnold  plunders  more  tobacco. 
Or  fteals  more  Negroes  for  Jamaica  "' ; 
Scarce  Rodney's  felf  among  th*  Euftatians, 
Infults  fo  well  the  laws  of  nations "' ; 
Ev*n  Tryon*8  fame  grows  dim,  and  mourning. 
He  yields  the  laurel  crown  of  burning  '^'. 
I  fee  with  rapture  and  furprize, 
New  triumphs  fparkling  in  thine  eyes. 
But  view  where  now  renewed  in  might. 
Again  the  rebels  dare  the  fight." 

I  look'd  and  far  in  fbuthern  ikies. 
Saw  Greene,  their  fecond  hope,  arife. 
And  with  his  fmall  but  gallant  band. 
Invade  the  Carolinian  land  ^^". 
As  winds  in  ftormy  circles  whirl*d 
Rufti  billowing  o*er  the  darkened  world. 
And  where  their  wafting  fury  roves, 
Succeffive  fweep  th*  aftonifli*d  groves ; 
Thus  where  he  pours  the  rapid  fight. 
Our  boafted  conquefts  fink  in  night. 
And  wide  o*er  all  th'  extended  field. 
Our  forts  refign,  our  armies  yield. 


Till 


[canto 


rOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


"55 


Till  now  rcgain'd  the  vanquifh'd  land. 
He  lifts  his  ftandard  on  the  ftrand '". 

Again  to  fair  Virginia's  coaft, 
I  turn*d  and  view*d  the  Britifli  hoft. 
Where  Chefapeak*s  wide  waters  lave 
Her  Ihores  and  join  th*  Atlantic  wave. 
There  fam*d  Cornwallis  tow*ring  rofe. 
And  fcorn'd  fecure  his  diftant  foes ; 
His  bands  the  haughty  rampart  raile. 
And  bid  th*  imperial  ftandard  blaze  ^''. 
When  lo,  where  ocean's  bounds  extend, 
I  faw  the  Gallic  fails  afcend. 
With  fav*ring  breezes  ftem  their  way. 
And  croud  with  Ihips  the  fpacious  bay 
Lo  Wafliington  from  northern  ihores. 
O'er  many  a  region,  wheels  his  force. 
And  Rochambeau  with  legions  bright, 
Defcends  in  terrors  to  the  fight  ^^*, 
Not  fwifter  cleaves  his  rapid  way. 
The  eagle  cow'ring  o'er  his  prey. 
Or  knights  in  fam*d  romance  that  fly 
On  fairy  pinions  thro'  the  Iky. 


183 


Till 


Ama7;'d 


^t  'l 


Wl 


I 


4ikpi; 


f'\ 


?i  I 


'i    I 


156 


M' F I  NO AL : 


[canto 


Amaz'd  the  Briton's  Ilartlcd  pride, 
Sees  ruin  wake  on  cv'ry  lide ; 
And  all  his  troops  to  fate  confign'd, 
By  inftantaneous  ftroke  Burgoyn'd  '''\ 
Not  Cadmus  view*d  with  more  furprizc. 
From  earth  embattled  armies  rife, 
When  by  fuperior  pow*r  impcll'd, 
He  fow*d  with  dragon's  teeth  the  field  "". 
Here  Gallic  troops  in  terror  iland, 
There  rufh  in  arms  the  Rebel  band ; 
Nor  hope  remains  from  mortal  fight. 
Or  that  laft  Britifh  refuge,  flight '". 
I  faw  with  looks  downcafl;  and  grave. 
The  Chief  emerging  from  his  cave  "', 
(Where  chaced  like  hare  in  mighty  round. 
His  hunters  earth'd  him  firft  in  ground) 
And  doom*d  by  fate  to  rebel  fway. 
Yield  all  his  captur'd  hofts  a  prey  "". 

There  while  I  viewM  the  vanquifli*d  town. 
Thus  with  a  figh  my  friend  went  on  : 
"  Beholdll  thou  not  that  band  forlorn. 
Like  flaves  in  Roman  triumphs  borne '''''j 


!.l     J 


Their 


tj ;  tM  '  i' 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


^S7 


Their  faces  lcngth*ning  with  their  fears, 
And  cheeks  dirtain'd  with  ftreams  of  tears. 
Like  dramatis  perfonx  fage, 
Equipt  to  a  A  on  Tyburn's  ftage. 
Lo  thefe  are  they,  who  lur*d  by  follies. 
Left  all  and  followed  great  Cornwallis ; 
True  to  their  King,  with  firm  devotion. 
For  confcience  fake  and  hop'd  promotion, 
Expedant  of  the  promised  glories. 
And  new  Millennial  ftate  of  Tories. 
Alas,  in  vain,  all  doubts  forgetting. 
They  tried  th'  omnipotence  of  Britain  j 
But  found  her  arm,  once  flrong  and  brave. 
So  ihorten'd  now  Ihe  cannot  fave. 
Not  more  aghaft  departed  fouls. 
Who  rifk*d  their  fate  on  Popiih  bulls  '^', 
And  find  St.  Peter  at  the  wicket 
Refufe  to  counterfign  their  ticket. 
When  driv'n  to  purgatory  back. 
With  all  their  pardons  in  their  p  xk : 
Than  Tories  muft'ring  at  their  ftations 
On  faith  of  royal  proclamations "'. 


Their 


I. 


6 


t 


i 


h 
V 

'■•I 


m 


ill 


^ 


ill 


!!  ?.!; 


^1i 


I': 


It 


r 


iS8 


M'FiNG  At ; 


As  Pagan  Chiefs  at  ev'ry  crifis. 
Confirmed  their  leagues  by  facrifices. 
And  herds  of  beafts  to  all  their  deities. 
Oblations  fell  at  clofe  of  treaties : 
Cornwallis  thus  in  antient  fafhion. 
Concludes  his  league  of  capitulation. 
And  viftims  due  to  Rebel-glories, 
Gives  this  an  offering  up  of  Tories. 
See  where  relieved  from  fad  embargo. 
Steer  off  confign'd  a  recreant  cargo. 
Like  old  fcapegoats  to  roam  in  pain. 
Marked  like  their  great  forerunner,  Cain  '^^ 
The  reft,  now  doom'd  by  Britifti  leagues. 
To  juftice  of  refentful  Whigs, 
Hold  worthlefs  lives  on  tenure  ill. 
Of  tenancy  at  Rebel-will, 
While  hov'ring  o*er  their  forfeit  perfons. 
The  gallows  waits  his  fure  reverlions. 

Thou  too,  M'Fingal,  ere  that  day, 
Shalt  tafte  the  terrors  of  th*  affray. 
See  o'er  thee  hangs  in  angry  fkies. 
Where  Whiggilh  conftellations  rife. 


[CANTQ 


And 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


'59 


And  while  plebeian  figns  afcend. 
Their  mob-infpiring  alpefts  bend ; 
That  baleful  Star,  whofe  horrid  hair  ^^ 
Shakes  forth  the  plagues  of  down  and  tar ! 
I  fee  the  pole,  that  rears  on  high 
Its  flag  terrific  thro*  the  iky  j 
The  Mob  beneath  prepared  t*  attack. 
And  tar  predeftin'd  for  thy  back  ! 
Ah  quit,  my  friend,  this  dan^'rous  home. 
Nor  wait  the  darker  fcenes  to  come ; 
For  know  that  Fate's  aufpicious  door. 
Once  fhut  to  flight  is  oped  no  more. 
Nor  wears  its  hinge  by  various  ftations. 
Like  Mercy's  door  in  proclamations  ^^^. 

But  left  thou  paufe,  or  doubt  to  fly. 
To  ftranger  vilions  turn  thine  eye  : 
Each  cloud  that  dimm'd  thy  mental  ray. 
And  all  the  mortal  mifts  decay ; 
See  more  than  human  Pow*rs  befriend. 
And  lo  their  hoftile  forms  afcend ! 
See  tow'ring  o*er  th*  extended  ftrand. 
The  Genius  of  the  weftern  land. 


And 


In 


i6o 


M'FxNOAL  : 


[canto 


??  m> 


»5t:' 


U 


\'h-H 


In  vengeance  arm*d,  his  fword  aflumes. 

And  ftands,  like  Tories,  drcll  in  plumes  ^^^, 

See  o*er  yon  Council  feat  with  pride. 

How  Freedom  fpreads  her  banners  wide '"  ! 

There  Patriotifm  with  torch  addrcfs'd. 

To  fire  with  zeal  each  daring  bread  ! 

While  all  the  Virtues  in  their  band, 

Efcape  from  yon  unfriendly  land, 

Defert  their  antient  Britifh  ftation, 

Poflell  with  rage  of  emigration. 

Honor,  his  bufmefs  at  a  Hand, 

For  fear  of  ftarving  quits  their  land ; 

And  Juftice,  long  difgraced  at  Court,  had 

By  Mansfield's  fentence  been  tranfported  *^. 

Vi£l*ry  and  Fame  attend  their  way, 

Tho'  Britain  wifh  their  longer  ftay. 

Care  not  what  George  or  North  ^^^  would  be  at. 

Nor  heed  their  writs  of  ne  exeat '****; 

But  fired  with  love  of  colonizing, 

Quit  the  fall*n  empire  for  the  rifing." 

I  looked  and  faw  with  horror  fmitten, 
Thefe  hoftiJe  pow'rs  avcrfc  to  Britain.  v 


When 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision. 


i6i 


When  lo,  an  awful  fpeftre  rofe"'. 

With  languid  palenefs  on  his  brows ; 

Wan  dropfies  fwell'd  his  form  beneath. 

And  iced  his  bloated  checks  with  death  j 

His  tatter'd  robes  expofed  him  bare. 

To  ev'ry  blaft  of  ruder  air ; 

On  two  weak  crutches  propt  he  Hood, 

That  bent  at  ev*ry  ftep  he  trod. 

Gilt  titles  graced  their  fides  fo  flender. 

One,  "Regulation,"  t'other,  "Tender"*;*' 

His  breaftplate  graved  with  various  dates, 

"  The  faith  of  all  th'  United  States  "^ : " 

Before  him  went  his  fun'ral  pall. 

His  grave  flood  dug  to  wait  his  fall. 

I  ftarted,  and  aghaft  I  cried, 

"  What  means  this  fpeftre  at  their  lide  ? 

What  danger  from  a  Pow'r  fo  vain. 

And  why  he  joins  that  fplendid  trJn  ?  " 

"  Alas,  great  Malcolm  cried,  experience 

Might  teach  you  not  to  truft  appearance. 

Here  ftands,  as  dreft  by  fierce  Bellona  "^ 

The  ghoft  of  Continental  Money  ^^\ 


When 


Of 


1 62 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


f;  -I 


l!>  li.  ■ 


I!'-; 


Of  dame  Neceffity  defcended. 
With  whom  Credulity  engender*d. 
Tho'  born  with  conftitution  frail. 
And  feeble  ftrength  that  foon  muil  fail ; 
Yet  ftrangely  vers*d  in  magic  lore. 
And  gifted  with  transforming  pow*r. 
His  fkill  the  wealth  Peruvian  joins 
With  diamonds  of  Brazilian  mines '". 
As  erft  Jove  fell  by  fubtle  wiles 
On  Danae's  apron  thro*  the  tiles. 
In  fhow'rs  of  gold ;  ^*''  his  potent  hand 
Shall  ftied  like  fhow'rs  thro*  all  the  land. 
Lefs  great  the  magic  art  was  reckon*d. 
Of  tallies  caft  by  Charles  the  fecond. 
Or  Law*s  famed  Mifliflipi  fchemes  '^% 
Or  all  the  wealth  of  Southfea  dreams "°. 
For  he  of  all  the  world  alone 
Owns  the  longfought  PhiloPpher's  ftone  "", 
Reftores  the  fab*lous  times  to  view. 
And  proves  the  tale  of  Midas  true '". 
0*er  heaps  of  rags,  he  waves  his  wand. 
All  turn  to  gold  at  his  command. 


Provide 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


163 


Provide  for  prefcnt  wants  and  future. 
P.aife  armies,  vidlual,  clothe,  accoutre. 
Adjourn  our  conquells  by  cffbign. 
Check  Howe's  advance  and  take  Burgoyne, 
Then  makes  all  days  of  payment  vain. 
And  turns  all  back  to  rags  again '". 
In  vain  great  Howe  fhall  play  his  part. 
To  ape  and  counterfeit  his  art : 
In  vain  Ihall  Clinton,  more  belated, 
A  conj'rer  turn  to  imitate  it "' ; 
With  like  ill  luck  and  pow*r  as  narrow. 
They'll  fare,  like  for'ccrs  of  old  Pharaoh, 
Who  tho*  the  art  they  underftood 
Of  turning  rivers  into  blood, 
And  caus'd  their  frogs  and  ihakes  t'  exift. 
That  with  fomc  merit  croak'd  and  hifs'd. 
Yet  ne'er  by  ev'ry  quaint  device. 
Could  frame  the  true  Mofaic  lice  ^". 
He  for  the  Whigs  his  arts  fhall  try. 
Their  firft,  and  long  their  fole  ally ; 
A  patriot  firm,  while  breath  he  draws. 
He'll  perilh  in  his  country's  caufe  j 


Provide 


And 


164 


M'FlNGAL : 


[canto 


I'.'f  i .  ■ 


m-'m 


U    [' 


And  when  his  magic  labours  ceafe. 
Lie  buried  in  eternal  peace. 

Now  view  the  fcenes  in  future  hours. 
That  wait  the  famed  European  Pow'rs. 
See  where  yon  chalky  cliffs  arife. 
The  hills  of  Britain  flrike  your  eyes '" : 
Its  fmall  extenlion  long  fupplied. 
By  vaft  immenlity  of  pride  ; 
So  small  that  had  it  found  a  ftation 
In  this  new  world  at  iirll  creation. 
Or  were  by  Juftice  doom'd  to  fufFcr, 
And  for  its  crimes  tranfported  over  '^' 
We'd  find  full  room  for't  in  lake  Eri,  or 
That  larger  waterpond,  Superior, 
Where  North  on  margin  taking  Hand, 
Would  not  be  able  to  fpy  land  ^^\ 
No  more,  elate  with  pow'r,  at  eafe 
She  deals  her  infults  round  the  feas ; 
See  dwindling  from  her  height  amain. 
What  piles  of  ruin  fpread  the  plain ; 
With  mould'ring  hulks  her  ports  are  fill'd, 
And  brambles  clothe  the  cultur'd  field ! 


See 


FOURTH.] 


The  Vision. 


i6s 


See  on  her  cliiTs  her  Genius  lies. 
His  handkerchief  at  both  his  eyes. 
With  many  a  dcepdrawn  figh  and  groan. 
To  mourn  her  ruin  and  his  own ! 
While  joyous  Holland,  France  and  Spain, 
With  conq'ring  navies  rule  the  main. 
And  Ruffian  banners  wide  unfurl'd. 
Spread  commerce  round  the  eaftern  world '^^. 
And  fee  (fight  hateful  and  tormenting) 
Th*  Amer*can  empire  proud  and  vaunting. 
From  anarchy  Ihall  change  her  crafis. 
And  fix  her  pow*r  on  firmer  bafis ; 
To  glory,  wealth  and  fame  afcend. 
Her  commerce  rife,  her  realms  extend ; 
Where  now  the  panther  guards  his  den. 
Her  defart  forefts  fwarm  with  men. 
Her  cities,  tow'rs  and  columns  rife. 
And  dazzHng  temples  meet  the  fkies ; 
Her  pines  defcending  to  the  main. 
In  triumph  fpread  the  watry  plain. 
Ride  inland  lakes  with  fav*ring  gales. 
And  crovid  her  ports  with  whit'ning  fails ; 


See 


Till 


1 66 


M'FiNG  al: 


[canto 


:k 


5         I 


Till  to  the  fkirts  of  weftern  day. 

The  peopled  regions  own  her  fway  "'.** 

Thus  far  M'Fingal  told  his  tale. 
When  thundring  fhouts  his  ears  aflfail. 
And  ftrait  a  Tory  that  flood  centry, 
Aghaft  rufh'd  headlong  down  the  entry. 
And  with  wild  outcry,  like  magician, 
Difpers'd  the  refidue  of  vilion  ^^'^ : 
For  now  the  Whigs  intell*gence  found 
Of  Tories  muftring  under  ground. 
And  with  rude  bangs  and  loud  uproar, 
'Gan  thunder  furious  at  the  door'^^ 
The  lights  put  out,  each  Tory  calls 
To  cover  him,  on  cellar  walls. 
Creeps  in  each  box,  or  bin,  or  tub. 
To  hide  his  head  from  wrath  of  mob^ 
Or  lurks,  where  cabbages  in  row 
Adorn*d  the  lide  with  verdant  fliow. 
M*Fingal  deem'd  it  vain  to  ftay. 
And  rifk  his  bones  in  fecond  fray ; 
But  chofe  a  grand  retreat  from  foes, 
Xn  literal  fenfe,  beneath  their  nofe  ^^'K 


The 


[canto 


FOURTH.] 


The   Vision, 


167 


The  window  then,  which  none  elfe  knew. 

He  foftly  open'd  and  crept  thro* 

And  crawling  flow  in  deadly  fear. 

By  movements  wife  made  good  his  rear. 

Then  fcorning  all  the  fame  of  martyr. 

For  Bofton  took  his  fwift  departure  '*• ; 

Nor  dar'd  look  back  on  fatal  fpot. 

More  than  the  family  of  Lot  "^ 

Not  North  in  more  diftrefs'd  condition. 

Outvoted  firft  by  oppofition : 

Nor  good  king  George  when  that  dire  phantom 

Of  Independence  comes  to  haunt  him. 

Which  hov'ring  round  by  night  and  day. 

Not  all  his  conj'rers  yet  can  lay  '^'. 

His  friends,  aflembled  for  his  fake. 

He  wifely  left  in  pawn  at  flake* 

To  tarring,  feathering,  kicks  and  drubs 

Of  furious,  difappointed  mobs. 

And  with  their  forfeit  hides  to  pay 

For  him,  their  leader,  crept  away  ^^^, 

So  when  wife  Noah  fummon'd  greeting 

All  animals  to  general  meeting ; 


From 


The 


I. . 


i68 


M'FlNGAL : 


From  ev*ry  fide  the  members  ient 
All  kinds  of  bcafts  to  rcprefent ; 
Each  from  the  flood  took  care  t'  embark. 
And  fave  his  carcafe  in  the  ark ; 
But  as  it  fares  in  ftate  and  church. 
Left  his  conflituents  in  the  lurch. 


FINIS. 


[canto 


ll  I 


CANTO 


NOTES. 


CANTO  1. 


*  The  origin  of  the  word  Yankey  (now  spelled 
Yankee)  is  involved  in  obscurity.  Some  suppose 
it  to  be  derived  from  an  appellation  in  use  in  Eu- 
rope, long  before  the  settlement  of  the  English 
colonies  in  America.  Others,  with  more  plausi- 
bility, say  that  it  was  coined  from  the  guttural 
sound  of  the  New  England  Indians  in  their  at- 
tempt to  pronounce  the  word  Enr/lhh.  The  sound 
would  be  nearly  represented  thus — Yaunghees,  the 
g  being  pronounced  hard,  and  approaching  to  the 
sound  of  A;,  joined  with  a  strong  aspirate  The 
Dutch  settlers  on  the  Hudson  adopted  it  as  an 
epithet  of  derision,  and  applied  it  to  all  the  in- 
habitants of  New  England.  Dr.  Thacher  siys  that 
a  farmer  of  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  named 
Jonathan  Hastings,  who  lived  at  about  the  year 
1713,  used  it  as  a  favorite  cant  word  to  express 
excellence,  as  a  yankee  good  house,  or  yankce  good 
cider.     The  students  of  Harvard  on  that  account 

8        . 


1 70 


Notes. 


■  ,M 


!:':';!! 


}'*•' 


'i  ' 

f<\    I. 


L         I 


called  him  Yankee  Jonathtm,  As  ho  was  a  weak 
man,  when  the  HtudentH  wislicd  to  denote  a  person 
of  that  character,  they  would  call  him  Ytinkcc 
Jonathan.  It  is  now  often  UHcd  in  l*jii^luiid  uh  a 
general  name  for  the  people  of  the  United  State3. 
Layard,  in  his  narrative  of  \m  dlMcoveries  at  Nhi- 
eveh,  says  that  some  of  the  luitivos  there  uttered 
a  sound  very  similar  to  that  of  Vankee,  in  giving 
a  general  name  to  the  Americans. 

'^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  tumultuous  fliglit  of 
the  British  toward  Boston,  after  the  skirmishes  at 
Lexington  and  Concord  on  the  10th  of  April, 
1775.  It  might  also  apply  to  nuvny  similar  flights 
of  the  enemy  during  the  war.  This  canto  was 
published  in  the  autumn  of  1775,  and  the  allusion 
was  only  to  the  events  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 

'  When  General  Gage  heard  of  the  aifair  at 
Lexington,  he  sent  out  Lord  Percy,  a  son  of  the 
Duke  of  Northumberland,  with  a  reinforcement. 
Percy  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  noted  Earl 
Percy,  who  was  slain  in  the  battle  of  Chevy  Chase, 
so  celebrated  in  English  song  and  story.  As  he 
marched  out  through  Roxbury,  his  band  playing 
Yankee  Boodle,  in  derision,  (it  being  then  used 
in  the  British  army  as  a  sort  of  llogue's  March, 
when  drumming  delinquents  out  of  the  camp,)  he 
observed  a  boy  performing  many  antics.  Percy 
asked  him  why  he  was  so  merry.  *'  To  think," 
said  the  shrewd  lad,  "  how  you  will  dance  by-and- 
by,  to  Chevy  Chased    Percy  was  often  influenced 


V 


Notes. 


i?! 


a  weak 
porson 

Vuid'ce 
11(1  iiH  a 
States, 
at  Niii- 
uttorcd 
I  giving 

flight  of 
lislicsat 
'  April, 
r  flights 
ito  "was 
allusion 
Joston. 
ffair  at 
1  of  the 
cement. 
3(1  Earl 
/  Chase, 
As  he 

playing 
eii  used 

March, 
imp,)  he 
Percy 

think," 

by-and- 
fluenced 


i 


by  presentiments,  and   the   remark  of  the   boy 
pressed  heavily  upon  his  spirits  all  the  day. 

•*  IM'Fingal  is  a  representative  of  numerous 
magistrates  at  the  commencement  of  the  llevolu- 
tion,  who,  desirous  of  retaining  their  offices, 
were  over-zealous  for  the  Crown,  and  became  ex- 
ceedingly obnoxious  to  the  Whigs,  as  the  iVieiaL"* 
of  Liberty  were  called. 

'  Fingal  was  the  Warrior  King  of  ancient  Scot 
land,  celebrated  for  his  martini  deeds  in  the  Poems 
of  Ossian,  a  reputed  Celtic  Homer,  who  lived  in  the 
second  or  third  century  of  the  Christian  Era. 
These  poems,  professedly  translated  from  the 
Gaelic,  or  Erse  language,  by  James  McPhcrson,  a 
native  of  Inverness-shire,  Scotland,  were  fir;^t  pub- 
lished in  1762,  under  the  title  of  Fimjal  ;  An 
Ancient  Epic  Poem^  in  Six  Books.  Many  believe 
this  epic  to  have  been  the  offspring  of  the  brain  of 
McPherson  alone.  The  question  of  its  antiquity 
is  yet  open.  McPherson  was  in  America  in  1770, 
as  Surveyor  General,  under  Governor  Johnstone, 
of  Florida ;  and  it  is  asserted  by  McGregor,  tliat 
he  took  his  Gaelic  manuscripts  with  him,  and  lost 
many  of  them  there. 

"  The  Gaolic  Taischitaraugh,  a  well-known 
Highland  superstition.  The  belief  was  prevalent 
that  certain  persons  were  endowed  with  powers  of 
divination,  and  that  they  would  sometimes  not 
only  foretell  events,  but  by  some  mysterious 
method,   unknown    to    themselves     had    actual 


172 


Notes. 


!  I!  I        if 
I  1. 


visions  of  things  distant,  or  in  future.  The  belief 
was,  according  to  Martin,  universal  in  the  Western 
Islands;  and  Dr.  Johnson,  in  his  narrative  of  his 
visit  there,  gives  a  graphic  account  of  the  su- 
perstition, and  even  defends  it.  Sir  Walter  Scott 
often  used  it  with  effect,  in  prose  and  verse.  The 
character  of  M'AUister,  in  the  Legend  of  Mon- 
trose, exhibits  it ;  and  in  his  fine  ballad  of  Lord 
Boland,  and  in  the  Lady  of  the  Lake,  he  has 
given  glimpses  of  it.  So  has  Campbell,  in 
LochieVs  Warning  ;  and  Collins,  in  his  ode  on  the 
Superstitions  of  the  Highlands  finely  describes 
it.  The  belief  has  almost  passed  away,  and 
now  has  existence  only  in  tradition  and  poetry. 

'  The  English  people  had  a  traditional  hatred  of 
the  Stuarts,  which,  after  the  rebellion  in  favor  of 
the  young  Pretender,  Charles  Edward,  in  1745, 
was  extended,  in  a  great  degree,  to  the  whole 
Scotch  people.  On  the  accession  of  George  th3 
Third,  the  minds  of  the  English  people,  and  espe- 
cially of  the  ultra  Protestants,  were  excited  by 
unpleasant  forebodings,  because  John,  Earl  of 
Bute,  a  needy  Scotch  adventurer,  w^ho  had  been 
the  young  King's  tutor,  was  admitted  to  his 
counsels  as  Chief  Minister,  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
eminent  William  Pitt.  He  was  a  great  favorite 
of  the  queen-dowager,  and  rumor  spoke  disparag- 
ingly of  her  v'rtue.  These  facts  made  the  people 
fear  the  influence  of  the  Jacobites,  as  the  adhe- 
rents of  the  Stuarts  were  called,  in  the  affairs  of 


\ 


Notes. 


173 


\ 


government;  and  somebody  had  the  boldness, 
at  the  beginning  of  George's  reign,  to  place  a  large 
placard  on  the  Royal  Exchange,  with  the  words. 
"  No  Petticoat  Government — No  Scotch  Minis- 
ter." The  Scotch  were  noted  for  their  loyalty,  in 
this  country,  and  were  generally  found  among  the 
Tories,  especially  in  the  Carolinas.  This  fact, 
and  the  odium  that  rested  upon  the  Jacobites  in 
the  mother  country,  made  the  Americans,  during 
the  Revolution,  look  with  suspicion  upon  all  Scotch- 
men. Jefferson  manifested  this  feeling,  when  he 
drew  up  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  In 
the  original  draft,  he  alluded  to  "  Scotch  and 
foreign  mercenaries."  This  was  omitted,  on  mo- 
tion of  Dr.  Witherspoon,  who  was  a  Scotchman 
by  birth.  In  most  minds,  the  word  Jacobite  was 
synonymous  with  Popery.  Trumbull  showed  his 
dislike  0^  the  Scotch  by  his  choice  of  a  hero  in 
this  poem.  Frenau,  another  eminent  poet  of  the 
Revolution,  also  evinced  the  same  hatred.  In 
one  of  his  poems,  in  which  he  gives  Burgoyue 
many  hard  rubs,  he  consigns  the  Tories,  with 
Burgoyne  at  their  head,  to  an  ice-bound,  fog-cov- 
ered island,  off  the  northern  coa^^t  of  Scotland, 
thus : 

"  There,  Loyals,  there,  with  loyal  hearts,  retire, 
There  pitch  your  tents,  and  kindle  there  your  fire ; 
There  desert  Nature  will  her  stings  display, 
And  fiercest  hunger  on  your  vitals  prey; 
And  with  yourselves,  let  John  Burgoyne  retire, 
To  reign  your  monarch,  whom  jour  hearts  desire." 


174 


Notes. 


U  I 


•  When  bees  are  swarming,  loud  beating  upon 
sonorous  metal,  such  as  tin  pans,  kettles,  et  cetera, 
causes  them  to  alight,  or  **  settle,"  when  they  are 
placed  in  a  newly-preparod  hive. 

^  Alluding  to  the  influences  of  the  established 
churches  of  England  and  Scotland,  in  favor  of  the 
crown. 

^^  Bute  is  mentioned  in  a  preceding  note.  Lord 
Mansfield,  here  alluded  to,  was  a  powerful  sup- 
porter of  the  Ministry,  and  was  employed  to  draw 
up  many  of  the  bills  introduced  after  the  passage 
of  the  famous  stamp  act,  in  17G5,  for  enslaving 
the  colonies.  On  that  account,  and  because  of  his 
Popish  tendencies,  he  was  hated  by  the  Americans. 
He  was  one  of  the  moRt  able  of  the  Chief  Justices  of 
England,  and  was  raised  to  the  peerage  in  1776. 
Because  he  seemed  to  favor  the  Rori)an  Catho- 
lics, his  mansion  was  burned  during  the  anti-Cath- 
olic riots  in  London  in  1780,  and  with  it  his 
valuable  collection  of  books  and  rare  manuscripts. 

"  Soon  after  the  accession  of  Oi^orge  the  Third, 
Bute  sent  secret  agents  ^0  America,  to  spy  out  the 
condition  of  the  colonists.  The  Germans,  who  were 
then  rapidly  settling  largo  districts  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, as  well  as  in  the  Curolinas,  wero  found  to  be 
a  liberty-loving  people,  and  guncrally  inimical  to 
royal  prerogatives.  The  French  Koman  Catho- 
lics, then  quite  rapidly  increasing  in  Maryland, 
and  the  French  Protestants  in  South  Carolina, 
were  obnoxious  to  the  same  objections,  and  the 


Notes. 


'75 


King  was  advised  to  cast  obstacles  in  the  way  of 
emigration  to  the  English  colonies  in  America. 
Restrictive  measures  were  soon  employed,  and  a 
scheme  was  proposed  to  "  reform  the  American 
Charters."  In  this  lay  the  egg  of  active  tyranny. 
This  measure  is  alluded  to  in  one  of  the  chargos 
made  against  the  King  in  the  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence. 

'^  SybillaB  were  prophetic  women,  ten  in  number, 
said  to  have  lived  in  the  early  ages  of  Greece  and 
Rome.  The  most  noted  of  these  was  the  Sybil 
of  CumaB,  celebrated  by  Virgil  in  the  sixth  book 
of  his  JEneid,  She  is  said  to  have  written  her  pro- 
phecies in  books,  in  which  she  foretold  the  fate  of 
the  Roman  Empire.  This  Sybil  was  consulted  by 
jEneas,  and,  according  to  the  poets,  she  accom- 
panied him  to  the  lower  world.  She  is  probably 
the  one  who  offered  her  books  to  Tarquin  in  his 
palace.  She  had  r^'ne  volumes,  which  she  offered 
to  sell  to  Tarquin  at  a  very  high  price.  He 
refused.  She  disappeared,  burned  three  of  them, 
and  then  offered  him  the  remaining  six  at  the 
same  price.  He  again  refused,  when  she  burned 
three  more,  and  came  on  the  same  errand.  The 
astonished  Emperor  bought  the  remaining  three, 
and  they  were  long  preserved  with  the  greatest 
care.  The  whole  story  is  probably  a  poetic  fable, 
covering  some  important  fact  in  Roman  history. 

^•^  Dodona  was  the  most  ancient  oracle  in  Greece 
and  is  said  to  have  been  consulted  by  the  Pelasgl 


176 


Notes. 


'iM  '  i 


11    li 


The  responses  of  the  oracle  were  delivered  by  a 
priestess,  from  the  sacred  oak  or  beach.  There 
were  two  oracles  of  the  same  name,  one  at  Epirus, 
and  one  in  Thessalj. 

^^  The  tripod  was  an  ancient  three-legged  stool, 
on  which  priests  and  priestesses  sat  when  they 
uttered  their  oracles. 

^®  In  the  autumn  of  1775,  the  British  govern- 
ment bargained  with  some  of  the  petty  German 
princes  for  about  seventeen  thousand  troops,  to 
assist  in  crushing  the  rebellion  in  America.  As 
the  larger  portion  of  these  troops  were  hired  from 
the  Prince  of  Hesse  Cassel,  they  bore  the  general 
name  of  Hessians,  and  as  such  are  known  in  the 
history  of  our  War  for  Independence.  They 
came  in  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1776,  and 
were  first  let  loose  upon  the  patriots  on  Long 
Island,  and  in  lower  Westchester  County,  New 
York.  They  were  generally  ignorant,  blood- 
thirsty and  cruel,  and  were  despised  by  the  English 
soldiers.  They  were  employed  in  the  least  hon- 
orable enterprises  during  the  war,  especially  in 
forays  upon  hamlets,  and  the  burning  of  towns. 
They  cost  the  British  government  a  million  of 
dollars,  and  a  vast  amount  of  reputation  among 
the  nations.  The  scheme  for  their  employment 
was  distasteful  even  to  the  King,  and  it  was  de- 
nounced in  Parliament,  as  "  disgraceful  to  the 
British  name." 

This  prophecy  was  but   half  accomplished. 


le. 


Ill  I 


Notes. 


177 


The  meroonarics  did  come  over,  but  the  hanging, 
and  division  of  owtatoH  never  occurred. 

"  A  Grecian  warrior  and  herald,  in  the  army 
that  hesieged  Troy.  His  voice,  according  to 
Homer,  was  louder  than  the  combined  voices  of 
fifty  men. 

'^  In  the  wars  between  the  ancient  Greeks  and 
Persians,  and  other  eantern  nations,  elephants 
were  employed.  Sometimes  they  became  fright- 
ened, turned  and  flod.  In  their  flight  they  would 
trample  upon  those  "  they  came  to  aid." 

^^  Penelope,  w'fe  of  Ulysses,  monarch  of  Ithaca, 
who  was  remarkable  for  her  fidelity  to  her  hus- 
band. Ulysses  was  absent  twenty  years,  after  his 
departure  for  the  siege  of  Troy.  Many  lovers 
sought  the  hand  of  Penelope,  and  her  relatives 
urged  her  to  abandon  all  thoughts  of  her  husband's 
return.  She  finally  agreed  to  make  choice  of  one 
of  the  suitors  as  soon  as  she  should  complete  a 
web  she  was  then  weaving,  as  a  funeral  ornament 
for  the  aged  Laertes.  Every  night  she  would 
undo  all  that  she  had  wrought  in  the  day  time,  and 
thus  she  protracted  her  promise-  until  the  final 
return  of  her  hutiband. 

2°  The  British  Parliament,  in  its  assertion  of  its 
power  "  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all  cases  whatso- 
ever," levied  a  small  duty  upon  all  tea  imported 
into  the  colonies.  The  sum  was  small,  but  the 
principles  involved  wore  of  vast  importance. 
The  colonists  had  already  stoutly  opposed  govern- 


gi! 


-MM 


178 


Notes, 


■;: 


ment  measures  having  a  like  tendency  to  tax  the 
people  without  their  consent,  and  had  boldly 
enunciated   the  grand  postulate,   that   taxation 

WITHOUT     REPRESENTATION,      IS     OPPRESISION.       TllO 

even  nominal  duty  on  tea,  levied  without  tho  con- 
sent of  the  colonists,  was  in  violation  of  tho  free- 
dom negatively  asserted  in  that  postulate,  and  tho 
people  resolved  not  to  submit  to  the  tax.  They 
held  meetings,  declared  that  tea  should  not  be 
Iniidei  for  sale  on  our  shores,  while  the  duty  re- 
mained, warned  consignees  not  to  offend  the  popu- 
lar will,  and  appointed  committees  of  vigiluiioe 
and  correspondence  to  see  that  tliat  will  had  free 
'.iX'ircise.  Commotions  ensued,  cargoes  of  tea 
were  destroyed,  and  the  Revolutionary  Qvimn  was 
thus  hastened.  For  ten  long  years,  tlie  people 
had  remonstrated,  petitioned,  addressed  th©  King, 
Parliament  and  people  of  Great  Britain,  but  to  no 
purpose,  and  so,  despairing  of  redress,  and  deter- 
mined to  be  free,  they  raised  the  arm  of  rnsjgtanco, 
and  the  war  began. 

^'  The  terms  Whig  and  Tory  we^o  adopted  at 
an  earl^  period  of  the  stv  aggie.  TUo  appellati'^n 
of  Tory  was  first  given  to  the  wild  Irish,  outbid© 
of  the  English  jval  jurisdxCtion  in  Ireland,  w  iv 
made  predatory  yar  against  ihe  BritiNh  mottle- 
ments  in  Dublin  md  v"3mity.  In  the  oivii  warn 
in  the  reign  o2  Charles  the  First,  those  s^lans 
adhered  to  the  royal  party.  The  name  was  also 
applied  to  a  volunteer  troop  of  cavalry  iu  Olknr low's 


Notes. 


179 


ax  the 
boldly 

XATtON 

.  Tlie 
10  con- 
10  froo- 
md  tho 
They 
not  be 
uty  re- 

0  popu- 
igilatioo 
ad  free 

of   tea 

[nlH  was 

people 

e  King, 

ut  to  no 

1  doter- 
stimcc, 

)tod  at 
ellati'^n 
outside 
id,  w'lO 

mettle- 
ni  ^s^-ai-H 
140  vlatis 
ivas  also 
harlcM's 


army,  composed  of  young  noblemen,  and  the  sons 
of  gentlemen,  who  were  famous  for  revelry,  and 
the  singing  of  songs,  the  chorus  of  which  con- 
sisted in  a  roll  of  unmeaning  words.  They  had  a 
favorite  ballad,  suited  to  the  times,  the  chorus  of 
which  was, 

**  Sing  tor^,  Tory,  rantnin,  sanctum,  tory  roiy  row.* 

The  origin  of  the  word  Whig  is  not  so  clear. 
Some  say  that  it  originally  meant  a  sour  kind  of 
crab-apple,  and  that  it  was  applied  to  the  Puri- 
tans in  the  army  of  Cromwell,  who  clipped  their 
hair  short,  scowled  upon  all  pleasantries,  &c. 
They  were  called  Whigs,  prick-ears,  and  round- 
heads.    Bishop  Burnet  gives  a  different  account 


of  its  origin. 


The  waggoners   in   the  West    of 


Scotland,  when  driving  their  horses,  used  the  word 
!■  higgam,  and  the  drivers  were  called  ichigga- 
mores,  abbreviated  to  whiggs.  On  one  occasion, 
about  six  thousand  of  these  people  marched 
io  Edinburgh,  headed  by  the  Marquis  of  Argyle, 
to  oppose  the  ministerial  troops,  and,  after  that, 
all  who  opposed  the  court,  were  called  Whigs,  in 
contempt.  Ever  since  then,  the  court  party  in 
EngU  'd  have  been  called  Tories,  and  their  oppo- 
nents Whigs.  These  were  significant  terms  for 
the  Americans  at  the  commencement  of  the  revo- 
lutionary contest,  and  became  common  in  1774. 

^-  Allusion  is  here  probably  made  to  a  King  of 
the  Averni  districi  whom  Caesar  made  a  prisoner 
Tifter  his  last  battle  with  and  final  conquest  of  th  • 


■4 

m 


M 

t 
! 


I 


180 


Notes. 


Gauls,  and  carried  in  triumph  to  Rome.  When  he 
laid  the  royal  ensigns  and  arras  at  the  foot  of  Cresiir, 
he  exclaimed,  "  Receive  them ;  thou,  0,  bravest  of 
men,  hast  conquered  a  brave  man."  The  Senate  de- 
creed a  triumph  to  Ca3sar,  and  the  Gallic  King  and 
other  notable  prisoners  were  astonished  and  awed 
by  the  great  display  of  wealth,  and  power,  and 
pageantry,  in  the  imperial  city. 

^'^  Formerly  town  meetings  were  usually  held  in 
the  churches  or  meeting-houses  in  the  country 
towns  of  New  England. 

^*  Mercury  was  the  messenger  of  the  gods,  and 
is  represented  with  wings  upon  his  cap  and  feet, 
and  bearing  a  staff  (caduceus)  in  his  hand,  about 
which  serpents  are  entwined.  Mercury  was  also 
considered  the  patron  of  eloquence,  and  of  thieves, 
and  other  dishonest  persons. 

^^  In  many  parts  of  New  England,  the  term 
Moderator  is  yet  given  to  the  chairman  of  the 
meeting,  whether  political  or  religious.  In  the 
present  case,  he  is  seated  in  one  of  those  high, 
old-fashioned  pulpits,  which  seemed  to  have  been 
constructed  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  concealing 
the  person  of  the  speaker. 

'•^  During  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1774,  the 
people  of  the  colonies,  especially  those  of  New 
England,  commenced  arming  themselves.  They 
practised  daily  in  military  exercises  ;  tlie  manufac- 
ture of  gunpowder  was  encouraged ;  and  throughout 
Massachusetts  in  particular,  the  people  were  en- 


en 


lie 


;acsar,    -. , 
est  of 
ite  de- 
ig  and  - 
L  awed 
r,  and 

leld  in 
ountry 

is,  and     . 
d  feet, 
,  about 
as  also 
iliieves, 

3  term 
of  the 
In  the 
e  high, 
ve  been 
icealing 

74,  the 

of  New 
They 
lanufnc- 
oiighout 
^ere  en- 


N  OTES. 


181 


rolled  as  a  militia  force,  in  companies,  prepared  to 
take  up  arms,  and  rush  to  the  field  at  a  minute's 
warning.  From  this  circumstance,  they  were 
called  minute-men.  Such  were  the  men  who 
opposed  the  British  at  Lexington  and  Concord, 
and  annoyed  them  by  a  galling  fire  from  behind 
hedges  and  stone  walls,  all  the  way  of  their  re- 
treat to  Boston. 

"  -^olus  was  the  god  or  ruler  of  the  winds ;  and 
was  represented  as  holding  them  in  restraint,  in  a 
great  cave,  from  which  they  issued  at  his  bidding. 

'^  Numbers,  chapter  xii. 

'*  Honorius,  as  opposed  to  M'Fingal,  is  a  repre- 
sentative of  a  stanch  Whig  patriot,  and  a  bold 
leader  of  his  class. 

^^  British  statesmen,  opposed  to  the  colonists,  in 
their  struggle  for  freedom,  were  fond  of  boasting 
of  the  liberality  of  Great  Britain,  toward  lior 
children  in  the  New  World.  They  were  either 
ignorant  of,  or  artfully  concealed  the  fact,  that 
England  had  been  fully  repaid  for  all  her  boasted 
aids,  by  services,  the  most  arduous  and  important. 
All  of  the  settlements,  except  Georgia,  had  been 
made  on  private  account ;  and  all  through  tho 
colonial  period,  the  connection  with  Great  Britain 
was  a  detriment  to  the  colonies,  rather  than  a 
benefit.  For  long  and  gloomy  years,  they  had 
struggled  up,  from  feebleness  to  strength,  unaided 
and  alone.  They  had  built  fortifications,  raised 
armies,  and  fought  battles,  for  England's  glory 


ii 


l82 


Notes, 


■''  m 


mm' ' 


and  their  own  preservation,  without  England's 
aid,  and  often  without  her  sympathy.  In  175R> 
when  the  French  and  Indian  War  was  progrepaiug, 
public  and  private  advances  to  carry  on  the  war, 
made  in  Massachusetts  alone,  amounted  to  more 
than  a  million  of  dollars.  The  taxes  on  real 
estate,  in  order  to  raise  money,  wore  enormous ; 
in  many  instances,  equal  to  two-thirds  of  the  in- 
come of  the  tax-payers.  Yet  it  was  levied  by 
their  own  representatives,  and  they  did  not  com- 
plain. Lord  Baltimore  spent  £200,000  sterling, 
in  colonizing  Maryland ;  and  William  Penn  became 
deeply  involved  in  debt,  in  his  efforts  to  settle  and 
improve  Pennsylvania.  On  one  occasion,  in  1765, 
Charles  Townshend,  in  the  House  of  Commons, 
spoke  of  the  Americans  as  children  planted  by  the 
care  of  Great  Britain,  nourished  up  by  its  indul- 
gence, and  protected  by  its  arms.  Colonel  Barre 
replied,  "  They  planted  hy  your  care  !  No,  your 
oppressions  planted  them  in  America. "  *  *  * 
*'  They  nourished  up  hy  your  indulgence  !  They 
grew  by  your  neglect  of  them."  ***** 
"  They  protected  hy  your  arms  I  They  have 
nobly  taken  up  arms  in  your  defence."  And  then 
he  recounted  the  valorous  deeds  of  the  Americans, 
and  warned  the  English  legislature  that  "  that 
same  spirit  of  freedom  which  actuated  the  people 
at  first,"  in  fleeing  from  persecution,  would  "  ac- 
company them  still,"  and  predicted  that  they 
would  take  up  arms  in  defence  of  their  liberties. 


.your 

#  * 

They 

*  * 

have 

d  then 

ricans, 

"  that 

people 

"ac- 

they 


Notes. 


>8j 


**  Growth  and  decay  seem  to  be  the  law  of  pro- 
gress in  nations  as  well  as  individuals.  This 
truth,  all  past  history  teaches  us.  States  have 
their  youth,  maturity,  and  season  of  decrepitude 
before  decay. 

"  This  is  to  become  a  public  charge.  The 
national  debt  of  England,  at  that  time,  was  more 
than  seven  hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  dollars. 
The  debt  was  commenced  by  William  the  Third, 
and  the  English  people  were  alarmed  at  its  amount, 
in  1697,  then  only  twenty-five  millions  of  dollars. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  in 
1783,  it  had  swelled  to  about  thirteen  hundred 
millions.  Now  (1857)  it  is  more  than  four  thou- 
sand millions  of  dollars  i 

^*  This  alludes  to  the  time  of  the  elder  Pitt's 
administration,  when  Canada  was  wrested  from 
the  French,  and  a  vast  empire  in  India  lay  pros- 
trate at  the  feet  of  Great  Britain.  Fifteen  years 
had  now  elapsed,  and  the  Gallic  or  French  power 
had  loomed  up  amazingly,  and  the  traditionary 
feud  between  the  two  people,  though  quieted  by 
treaties,  was  as  fierce  as  ever.  When  our  Revolu* 
tion  broke  out,  the  French  perceived  an  opportu- 
nity to  damage  England,  by  helping  her  rebellious 
colonies.  Early  in  the  struggle,  the  Americans 
received  material  aid  from  Franee,  and  finally,  in 
1778,  formed  a  treaty  of  alliance  with  that  nation. 
For  three  years,  Gallic  crows  had  been  whetting 

their  beaks  to  pick  her." 


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184 


Notes. 


(■m 


.  ^  An  ancient  "  Hospital  of  St.  Mary  of  Betble 
hem,"  situated  in  London,  and  incorporated  by 
Henry  the  Eighth,  in  1546.  The  hospital  build- 
ing in  Moorfields,  which  was  erected  in  1675,  was 
pulled  down  in  1814.  The  present  buildings  of 
the  institution  are  in  St.  George's  Fields.  It  has 
long  been  used  as  a  hospital  for  lunatics,  which 
explains  the  allusion  in  the  poem.  In  later  edi- 
tions of  this  poem,  the  word  Bethlehem  is  changed 
to  Bedlam.  The  latter  is  a  corruption  of  the 
former. 

35  ""W"!!©  sees  thee?  (and  what  is  one?)  who  shonldst 
be  seen, 
A  goddess  among  gods,  adored  and  served, 
By  angels  numberless  thy  daily  train." 

Satan  to  Eve. 

— "  but  henceforth  my  early  care. 
Not  without  song,  each  morning  and  due  praise. 
Shall  tend  thee,  and  the  fertile  burden  ease 
Of  thy  full  branches,  offered  free  to  all ; 
Till,  dieted  by  thee,  I  grow  mature 
In  knowledge  as  the  gods,  who  all  things  know." 
Eve  to  the  Tree  of  Life,  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Booh  IX. 

'*  Special  reference  is  here  made  to  an  act, 
passed  by  the  British  Parliament  in  1766,  known 
as  the  Declaratory  Act^  in  which  the  omnipotence 
of  the  'British  Parliament  was  affirmed,  and  its 
"  right "  decla  red  to  bind  the  colonies  in  all 
cases  whatsoever."  This  measure,  strange  as  it 
may  appear,  was  proposed    by  Pitt,  who  had 


Notes. 


i8s 


Betlile 
tted  by 
[  build- 
75,  was 
ings  of 

It  has 
5,  which 
ter  edi- 
[jhanged 

of  the 


shouldst 


1, 


to  Eve. 

praise, 
ise 


know. 
ooTc  IX. 

an  act, 
3,  known 
ipotence 

and  its 
in  all 
ge  as  it 
vho   had 


labored  zealously  for  the  repeal  of  the  odious 
stamp  act.  It  was  a  necessary  expedient,  he 
thought,  in  order  to  insure  that  repeal,  but  it  un- 
fortunately became  the  egg  from  which  issued  the 
most  obnoxious  measures. 

»'  When,  in  1534,  Henry  the  Eiglithof  England 
quarrelled  with  the  Pope,  he  cast  off  his  allegiance 
to  the  Pontiff,  and  settled  the  supremacy  over 
the  Church  and  State,  in  his  dominions,  in  tlio 
person  of  the  Sovereign.  The  monarchs  of 
England  have  ever  since  asserted  and  maintained 
that  supremacy. 

^^  It  is  asserted  /and  positively  denied)  that,  in 
the  ninth  century,  a  female  named  Joan  conceived 
a  violent  passion  for  a  young  monk  named  Felda, 
and  in  order  to  be  admitted  into  his  monastery, 
assumed  the  garb  of  a  man.  On  the  death  of 
her  lover,  she  entered  upon  the  duties  of  Professor, 
and,  being  very  learned,  was  elected  Pope  on  the 
death  of  Adrian,  in  872.  This  story  has  occa- 
sioned violent  disputes  among  ecclesiastical  his- 
torians. We  have  no  record  of  any  trial  to  prove 
her  sex,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Chevalier  D'Eon, 
before  Lord  Mansfield. 

^'^  The  English  Parliament  House  is  called  St. 
Stephen's  Chapel.  A  chapel  so  called  in  honor 
of  Stephen,  the  proto -martyr,  was  erected  by 
King  Stephen,  at  about  the  year  1135.  It  was 
rebuilt  in  1347  ,  and  about  the  year  1550,  it  was 
applied  to  the  use  of  Parliament. 


1 86 


Notes. 


ti    I 


**>  Lord  North,  Earl  of  Guilford,  became  First 
Lord  of  the  Treasury,  or  Prime  Minister  of 
England,  in  1770,  and  continued  in  that  important 
office  until  1782.  He  was  a  well-meaning  man, 
but  lacked  the  better  qualities  of  a  great  states- 
man ;  and  by  his  official  blunders,  obstinacy,  and 
unwise  measures,  he  was  chiefly  instrumental  in 
alienating  the  loyalty  of  the  American  people, 
and  in  causing  and  protracting  their  armed  strug- 
gle for  independence.  He  was  blind  for  some 
years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in  July, 
1792,  when  ho  was  sixty  years  of  age.  See  note 
157,  Canto  IV. 

^^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  measure  known  as 
the  Quebec  Acty  in  the  spring  of  1774,  which 
established  the  Eoman  Catholic  religion  in  Canada. 
When  the  British  ministry  perceived  the  general 
disaffection  in  the  American  colonies,  and  the 
probability  that  the  important  province  of  Canada 
would  join  in  the  revolt,  this  conciliatory  measure 
toward  the  Boman  Catholic  population  there,  was 
intended  to  prevent  such  a  result.  The  cry  of 
"  No  Popery  "  was  then  very  popular  in  England, 
and  the  Quebec  Act  deeply  offended  public  senti- 
ment there,  and  in  America.  The  title  here 
given  to  the  central  Papal  authority  is  derived 
from  the  17th  chapter  of  BevelaHons. 

*"  At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  British 
ships  and  armies  were  employed  in  plundering  our 
seas,  ravaging  our  coast,  burning  our  towns,  and 


..if 

Notes.                           187 

le  First 

destroying  the  lives  of  our  people,   and  when,  in 

ater  of 

the  summer  of  1779,  the  royal  Governor  of  New 

iportant 

York,  William  Tryon,  had  burned  East  Haven, 

ig  man, 

Fairfield,  and  Norwalk,  in  Connecticut,  on  Long 

t  states- 

Island  Sound,  and  openly  insulted  the  defenceless 

loy,  and 

inhabitants,  he  boasted  of  his  extreme  leniency  in 

mtal  in 

leaving    a    single    house   standing   on   the   New 

people, 

England   coast.      And   British    ministers  often 

d  strug- 

disgusted  their  own  people  by  repeating  that  boast. 

or  some 

^^  One  of  the  great  foundations  of  the  British 

u  July,     \ 

Constitution  was  obtained  from  Charles  the  First 

3ee  note 

by  Parliament,  in  1628,  by  his  signature  to  a  bill 

which  recognized  all  the  legal  privileges  of  the 

:nown  as 

subject.      On    the    accession    of    William    and 

t,  which 

Mary,  in  1689,  a  Bill  of  Bights,  declaratory  of 

Canada. 

the  franchises  of  British  subjects,  was  passed,  and 

)  general 

received  the   royal    signature.      It   is   the   only 

and  the 

written  law  respecting  the  liberties  of  the  British 

'  Canada 

people,  except  Magna  Charta — the  Great  Charter. 

measure 

^  For  ten  long  years,  the  colonists  petitioned 

lere,  was 

the  King  and  Parliament  for  justice,  and  a  redress 

cry  of 

of   grievances.     Instead   of    listening  and   com- 

England, 

plying,  the  government  denied  their  prayer,  some-          "* 

Uc  senti- 

times  with  indiflference,  at  others  with  insults,  and 

tle  here 

again  by  an  accumulation  of  oppressive  measures. 

derived 

which  restricted  personal  liberty  and  commercial 

operations. 

British 

^*  First  .Kings,  chapter  xviii.     Baal,  or  Belus, 

ring  our 

was  the  chief  idol  among  the  idolatrous  nations 

vns,  and 

1          of  Canaan  and  vicinity. 
1 

i88 


Notes. 


'/;^j 


m  i> 


ii  wi 


f  !■.  'ii 


I    !'! 


!'  y 


"*  The  crocodile  was  worshipped  in  only  some 
portions  of  Ancient  Egypt;  in  others  it  was 
warred  upon  ;  and  the  ichneumon,  which  destroyed 
its  eggs,  was  regarded  with  great  favor.  Many 
mummied  crocodiles  have  been  found  at  Thebes, 
and  at  the  modern  Maahdah,  where  extensive 
grottos  contain  them.  Persons  were  sometimes 
eaten  by  the  beast,  after  having  adored  it. 

^'  In  almost  every  speech  from  the  throne,  con- 
cerning the  American  people,  the  King  used 
honeyed  words,  and  the  colonists  were  often 
deceived  by  false  hopes,  springing  from  the  prom- 
ises of  "  His  Most  Gracious  Majesty,"  which 
ministers  compelled  him  to  break.  The  hopes 
which  budded  in  the  warmth  of  these  promises, 
were  uniformly  blasted  by  the  frosts  of  Parlia- 
mentary action. 

*^  In  consequence  of  the  destruction  of  tea  in 
Boston  Harbor,  [see  note  31,  p.  257,]  and  other 
overt  acts  of  rebellion,  so  called.  Parliament,  by 
enactment  in  the  spring  of  1774,  ordered  the  port 
of  Boston  to  be  closed  against  all  shipping,  and 
suspended  all  commercial  operations  there.  This 
is  known  as  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  which  was  pro- 
ductive of  more  real  misery,  and  greater  irrita- 
tion, than  any  other  of  the  obnoxious  measures  of 
the  ministry.  Soon  after  the  passage  of  that  bill, 
others,  equally  tyrannical,  were  adopted.  Among 
them  was  one,  whose  operations  were  equivalent 
to  a  total  subversion  of  the  Charter  of  Massa- 


ily  some 
3  it  was 
iestroyed 
.     Many 

Thebes, 
extensive 
ometimes 
b. 

rone,  con- 
ing used 
ere  often 
ilie  prom- 
y,"  which 
Che  hopes 

promises, 
t)f  Parlia- 

of  tea  in 
and  other 
ament,  by 
i  the  port 
)ping,  and 
3re.     This 
ih  was  pro- 
,ter  irrita- 
easures  of 
that  bill, 
Among 
equivalent 
of  Massa- 


NOTES. 


189 


chusetts.  Other  colonies  were  threatened  with  a 
similar  lash,  if  they  dared  to  raise  voice  or  hand 
against  the  omnipotence  of  Parliament.  By  that 
enactment,  every  thing  pertaining  to  courts  of 
law  and  equity  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
creatures  of  the  government ;  and  the  officers  in 
the  province  were  made  independent  of  the  people 
by  receiving  their  salaries  from  the  crown. 

^*  Thomas  Gage  was  a  native  of  England,  and 
was  an  active  officer  during  the  French  and  Indian 
War.  He  was  appointed  Military  Governor  of 
Montreal  in  1760,  and  on  the  departure  of 
Amherst  from  America  in  1763,  he  succeeded  that 
officer  as  Commander-in-chief  of  the  British 
forces  in  America.  He  was  appointed  Governor 
of  Massachusetts,  in  the  place  of  Hutchinson,  in 

1774,  and  went  to  Boston  on  the  first  of  June, 
fully  authorized  and  prepared  to  enforce  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Port  Bill,  by  arms  if  necessary. 
He  was  naturally  amiable  in  disposition,  but  in 
executing  the  will  of  his  royal  master,  he  became, 
necessarily,  a  tyrant.  Gage  was  the  last  royal 
Governor  of  Massachusetts.  Howe  succeeded 
him  as  military  commander  in  the   summer   of 

1775,  and  he  went  to  England  in  the  autumn  of 
the  same  year,  where  he  died  in  April,  1787. 

^°  This  is  a  law  term,  signifying  "  the  power  of 
the  country,"  or  the  citizens  who  are  summoned 
to  assist  ail  officer  in  suppressing  a  riot,  or  in  execu- 
ting any  legal  precept  which  is  forcibly  opposed. 


H:. 


190 


Notes. 


"  Genesis,  chapter  iii. 

— "  In  at  his  mouth 
The  ilovil  entered,  and  his  brutal  sense 
In  lioui't  or  head,  possessing,  soon  inspired 
With  act  iutelligential." 

Paradise  Lost,  Book  IX. 

"  A  writ  of  ejectment. 

^^  At  the  commencement  of  the  contest,  loyalists 
and  timid  republicans,  desirous  of  conciliating 
government  officers,  formally  addressed  them, 
and  assured  them  of  friendship  and  support.  In 
Boston,  in  1774,  when  General  Gage  was  enforcing 
the  Port  Bill  with  rigor,  one  hundred  and  twenty 
merchants  and  others,  signed  an  address  to  Gage, 
expressive  of  their  gratitude  and  loyalty,  and 
even  went  so  far  as  to  offer  to  pay  the  East  India 
Company  for  the  tea  destroyed  in  December  pre- 
vious. There  were  some  others  who  protested 
against  the  course  of  the  Committee  of  Corre- 
spondence, and  the  action  of  a  large  portion  of  the 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  in  New  England,  who, 
they  averred,  were  unduly  exciting  the  people, 
and  urging  them  to  ruin.  These  •'  Addressers 
and  Protestors "  were  summarily  dealt  with  by 
the  Whigs,  and  many  of  them  were  compelled  to 
sign  a  recantation  which  the  General  Committee 
of  Correspondence  for  Massachusetts  declared 
satisfactory.  Those  who  would  not  sign  it  left 
the  province,  and  became  the  first  Refugee  Royal- 


' 


Notes. 


I9i 


[•cd 
ok  IX. 

loyalists 
ciliating 
d    them,    j 
(ort.     In    \ 
enforcing 
d  twenty 
to  Gage, 
alty,  and 
ast  India 
liber  pre- 
protested 
f   Corre- 
Lon  of  the 
nd,  who, 
people, 
ddressors 
with  by 
polled  to 
ommittce 
declared 
n  it  left 
ee  Royal- 


ists.    See  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the 
Revolution,  i.,  512. 

"  At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  great 
prejudice  prevailed  throughout  most  of  the  colo- 
nies, and  especially  in  New  England,  against  the 
clergy,  and  even  many  of  the  laity  of  the  Church 
of  England,  as  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church 
was  called.  There  were  many  reasons  for  this 
prejudice.  For  a  long  time  Archbishop  Seeker 
and  others  had  labored  zealously  in  efforts  to 
establish  Episcopacy  in  America,  which  the  colo- 
nists regarded  as  another  form  of  oppression, 
because  it  was  so  intimately  connected  with  the 
throne ;  so  they  strenuously  resisted  such  efforts. 
Sometimes  newspaper  and  pamphlet  controversies 
on  the  subject  ran  high,  and  were  very  bitter. 
Cooper,  of  King's  College,  Auchmuty,  Chandler, 
and  other  Episcopal  clergymen,  kept  their  pens 
quite  actively  engaged,  while  William  Livingston, 
of  New  Jersey,  was  equally  active  with  his  pen,  in 
opposition.  The  Church  clergy  constantly  harped 
upon,  and  were  in  favor  of  the  absurd  doctrines  of 
passive  obedience,  non-resistance,  and  the  divine 
right  of  Kings,  and  were  active  in  endeavors  to 
produce  divisions  among  the  patriots.  The  fact  that 
for  several  years  previous  to  the  Revolution,  the 
whole  bench  of  Bishops,  in  the  British  Parliament, 
were  opposed  to  the  colonists,  and  always  advised 
coercive  measures,  made  their  class  obnoxious  to 
the  patriots.     Again,  the  Episcopal  clergy  gener- 


192 


Notes. 


ally  took  sides  with  the  Crown,  and  joined  in  tlio 
hue  and  cry  against  tlie  leading  Wliign.  One  of 
their  writers,  in  Hugh  Gaine's  New  York  Mer- 
cury, in  1768,  supposed  to  have  been  Dr.  Auch- 
muty,  of  Trinity  Church,  or  Professor  Vardell,  of 
King's  College,  thus  alluded  to  Livingston,  in  a 
long  poem.  It  must  be  remembered  that  Liv- 
ingston wrote  anonymously : 

"  Some  think  hira  a  Tmdally  some  think  him  a  Chuh\ 
Some  think  him  a  Ranter^  that  sports  from  his  tub ; 
Some  think  him  a  Newton^  some  think  him  a  Locke^ 
Some  think  him  a  Stone,  some  think  him  a  Stock. 
But  a  Stock  he  at  least  may  thank  Nature  for  giving, 
And  if  he's  a  Stonk,  I  pronounce  it  a  Living." 

"  The  stories  of  the  wonderful  exploits  of  St. 
Anthony  and  his  pigs,  and  of  St.  Austin  preach- 
ing to  the  fishes,  are  told  in  the  Popish  legends. 

^*  William  Walter,  D.  D.,  was  rector  of  Trinity 
Church,  Summer  street,  Boston.  He  was  placed 
over  that  congregation  in  1768,  and  left  his  people 
early  in  1776,  after  this  canto  of  M'Fingal  was 
written.  He  was  an  addressor  of  Gage,  and  was 
among  the  proscribed  and  banished.  He  was 
afterwards  Chaplain  to  De  Lancey's  Third  Bat- 
talion of  American  Loyalists,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  war  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia,  and  took  charge 
of  a  church  at  Shelburne.  He  died  at  Boston, 
in  the  year  1800.  Before  he  left  his  flock  in 
Boston,  he  preached  many  furious  discourses 
against  rebellion,  and  often  warned  his  people  of 


Notes. 


'93 


I  in  tlio 
Oue  of 
rk  Mer- 
•.  Auch- 
irdell,  of 
ion,  in  a 
hat  Liv- 


a  Chubbf 
his  tub ; 
a  LockCy        ' 
,  Stock. 
or  giving, 

ING." 

its  of  St. 

,n  preach- 

egends. 

Df  Trinity 

ras  placed 
lis  people 

inijal  was 
and  was 
He   was 
hird  Bat- 

le  close  of 
ok  charge 
it  Boston, 
s  flock  in 
discoursed 
people  of 


the  dangers  of  the  halter  that  awaited  those  who 
lifted  their  hands  against  "  the  powers  that  be." 

"  Samuel  Auchmuty,  D.  I).,  was  the  son  of  an 
eminent  lawyer  and  Judge  of  Admiralty,  in 
Massachusetts.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
College,  and  received  his  Doctorate  of  Divinity 
from  Oxford,  England.  He  was  chosen  rector  of 
Trinity  Church,  in  New  York,  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Barclay,  in  1764,  and  continued  his  connec- 
tion until  the  summer  of  1776,  when,  with  his 
family,  he  retired  to  New  Jersey.  He  died  the 
following  spring.  His  sermons,  before  the  break- 
ing out  of  the  war,  were  strongly  denunciatory  of 
the  Sons  of  Liberty,  as  the  associated  patriots 
were  called,  the  most  prominent  of  whom,  in  New 
York,  was  Isaac  Sears,  (commonly  known  as 
"  King  Sears,")  who  was  a  member  of  his  church, 
and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  was  a  vestryman.  In 
April,  1775,  Dr.  Auchmuty  wrote  from  New  York 
to  Captain  Montressor,  Gage's  Chief  Engineer  in 
Boston :  "  We  have  lately  been  plagued  with  a 
rascally  Whig  mob  here,  but  they  have  effected 
nothing,  only  Sears,  the  King,  was  rescued  at  the 
jail  door.  [See  note  69.]  *  *  *  Qur 
magistrates  have  not  the  spirit  of  a  louse." 

^^  Samuel  Peters,  D.  D.,  was  a  native  of 
Hebron,  Connecticut,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College, 
and  a  Tory  Episcopal  clergyman.  His  loyalty 
and  his  lack  of  judgment  led  him  into  many  difficul- 
ties, and  he  became  exceedingly  obnoxious  to  the 

9 


194 


Notes. 


/ ' " 


'I 'I 


Whigs.  He  was  compelled  to  sign  retractions 
and  declarations,  but,  finding  Hebron  too  hot  for 
him,  he  fled  to  Boston,  and  took  shelter  under  the 
British  flag.  Ho  seems  to  have  indulged  a 
peculiar  spite  against  his  native  State,  and  pro- 
posed a  scheme  for  wiping  it  off  the  list  of  Oom- 
monwealths,  partitioning  it  between  Now  York  and 
Massachusetts.  He  went  to  England,  and  re- 
mained abroad  until  1805,  when  he  returned  to 
America.  In  the  meanwhile,  he  was  elected 
Bishop  of  Vermont,  but  declined  the  honor.  Ho 
had  also  written  a  History  of  Connecticut,  which 
is  a  contemptible  libel,  and  full  of  untruths.  Ho 
never  acknowledged  being  the  author,  but  the  fact 
is  well  known.  In  the  years  1817  and  1818,  ho 
journeyed  to  the  far  North  West,  even  to  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony.  He  died  at  New  York  on 
the  19th  of  April,  1826,  aged  90  years,  and  was 
buried  at  Hebron. 

"  Myles  Cooper,  D.  D.,  was  President  of  King's 
(now  Columbia)  College,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  Revolution,  and  for  some  years  previous.  He 
was  educated  at  Oxford,  England,  came  to  Amer- 
ca  in  1762,  and  the  next  year  was  made  President 
of  the  College.  His  opposition  to  the  patriots  was 
violent  and  unrelenting,  yet  some  of  the  students 
under  his  care,  among  whom  was  Alexander  Ham- 
ilton, boldly  defied  his  menaces.  He  became  very 
obnoxious  to  the  Whigs;  and,  finally,  feeling 
alarmed  for  his  personal  safety,  he  fled  in  haste 


Notes. 


i95 


■actions 
hot  for 
der  the 
ilged  a 
nd  pro- 
»f  Coia- 
ork  and 
and  re- 
irncd  to 

elected 
or.  IIo 
it,  which 
;hs.  Ho 
•j  the  fact 
1818,  ho 
n  to  the 
York  on 

and  was 

)f  King's 
jment  of 
)U3.     He 
to  Amer- 
*residcut 
triots  was 
students 
[or  Ilani- 
ime  very 
[,   feeling 
in  haste 


from  the  College,  took  refuge  in  Stuyvcsant's 
hou^rie,  near  the  East  Kiver,  and  made  his  c^'cupe 
on  board  the  Asia,  a  British  niun-of-war.  IIo 
went  to  England  soon  afterward,  and  never 
returned.  He  died  suddenly  at  Edinburgli,  in 
1785,  at  the  age  of  fifty  years.  •Among  his  papers 
was  found  the  following  epitaph,  written  by  him- 
self; 

"  Here  lies  a  priest  of  English  bh)0(l, 
Who,  liviDg,  liked  whate'cr  was  good ; 
Good  company,  good  wine,  good  name, 
Yet  never  hunted  after  fame." 

"'  Samuel  Seabury,  D.  D.,  was  the  first  Bishop 
of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  America. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  London,  Connecticut, 
where  his  remains  were  laid  at  death.  He  took 
orders  in  the  Church  in  London,  in  1758,  and 
became  pastor  of  a  congregation  in  New  Bruns- 
wick, New  Jersey.  He  afterwards  took  charge  of 
a  small  fiock  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  and  from 
there  he  went  to  Westchester  county,  New  York, 
where  he  was  settled  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Revolution.  There  he  took  an  active  part  with 
the  loyalists,  and  was  one  of  a  large  number  who 
met  at  White  Plains,  and  signed  a  protest  against 
"  all  unlawful  Congresses  and  Committees,"  and 
expressed  their  determination  "  to  support  the 
King  and  Constitution,"  at  all  hazards.  These 
proceedings  made  him  a  mark  for  public  indigna- 
tion, and  when,  in  the  autumn  of  1775,  a  party  of 


''  .\ 


196 


Notes. 


l-R 


m 

m 


light  horsemen  from  Connecticut,  led  by  "  King 
Sears,"  returned  from  destroying  Rivingtoii's 
printing  press  in  New  York,  they  carried  Mr. 
Scabury  with  them  as  a  prisoner  to  Connecticut. 
After  his  release,  he  became  Chaplain  in  Colonel 
Fanning's  Ameri^n  Regiment  of  Loyalists.  Ho 
settled  at  New  London,  at  the  close  of  the  war ; 
was  consecrated  bishop  in  Scotland  in  1784,  and 
presided  over  the  dioceses  of  Connecticut  and 
Rhode  Island,  until  his  death,  in  February,  1796. 
He  was  highly  esteemed  for  his  piety  and  learn- 
ing. 

"  Judges,  chapter  v. 

*^  Revelations,  chapter  xiii. 

**  A  kind  of  paste-blacking,  containing  grease, 
and  much  used  in  those  days  Tor  the  preservation 
of  shoes  from  the  eflfects  of  water.  It  was  mad« 
in  the  form  of  a  ball. 

**  A  soft,  friable  clay,  which  absorbs  grease,  and 
was  much  used  in  fulling  cloth. 

**  In  allusion  to  the  sale  of  Indulgences  in  the 
Papal  Church,  by  which,  for  certain  sums  of 
money,  a  man  was  allowed  to  commit  certain  sins, 
and  even  great  crimes.  This  practice  was  com- 
menced by  Pope  Leo  the  Third,  about  the  year 
800.  Urban  used  them  for  revenue  in  1090,  and 
afterwards  they  were  oflFered  by  the  Roman  Pon- 
tiffs as  awards  to  the  Crusaders.  Clement  the 
First  made  the  first  public  sale  of  them  in  1313 
In  1517,  Leo  the  Tenth  publislied  general  Indul- 


iifl 


Notes. 


^91 


'  Kirg 
igtoii's 
d  Mr. 
icticut. 
Colonel 
3.  He 
e  war; 
^4,  and 
it  and 
,  1796. 
learn- 


grease, 
rvation 
3  mad« 


,se,  and 


\  in  the 
ims  of 
in  sins, 
LS  com- 
le  year 
90,  and 
m  Pon- 
ent  the 
nl313 
Indul- 


gences througliout  Europe,  and  this  great  social 
grievance  led  to  the  Reformation,  first  in  Ger- 
many, and  then  in  Englan  1,  in  1534.  They  were 
pardon  for  sins  past,  present,  and  future;  and 
were  written  upon  parchment,  and  signed  by  the 
Pope  or  his  legates.  ,-c 

®®  1  Samuel,  chapter  x. 

*'  This  refers  to  the  position  of  the  Pope  of 
Rome,  who  is  also  a  temporal  prince. 

*^  See  Virgil's  Mneid^  hook  vi. 

*^  James  Rivington,  printer  of  the  Royal  Ga- 
zette^ in  New  York,  during  the  Revolution.  He 
came  to  America  from  London,  in  1760,  estab- 
lished a  bookstore,  first  in  Philadelphia,  and  then 
in  New  York,  and  in  1773  commenced  his  paper, 
first  called  the  Royal  Gazetteer.  No  man  was 
more  detested  by  the  Whigs  than  Rivington,  and 
his  paper  received  the  name  of  the  Lying  Gazette. 
Frenau,  another  poet  of  the  Revolution,  gave  him 
many  hard  blows ;  and  at  public  meetings  he  was 
everywhere  denounced.  In  the  autumn  of  1775, 
a  party  of  light  horsemen  from  Connecticut,  led 
by  Isaac  Sears,  (one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty  in  New  York,)  rode  into  the  city,  dis- 
mounted in  front  of  Rivington's  printing  ofiice, 
and  deliberately  destroyed  his  press,  and  carried 
off  his  types.  The  following  year,  when  tlie 
British  had  taken  possession  of  New  York,  he  was 
appointed  King's  Printer,  resumed  the  publi- 
cation of  his  paper,  and  continued  it  until  the 


ipS 


Notes. 


imS  *  ■'■■ 


m 


-4^] 

-■'•i^: 


IW-l;ii    '< 

Ik  I  l\  i' 


close  of  the  war,  when,  to  the  astonishment  of  all, 
he  remained  in  the  city  unmolested,  while  far  less 
sinful  loyalists  felt  compelled  to  flee  to  Canada 
and  Nova  Scotia.  The  reason  is  in  the  fact,  that 
he  was  false  to  his  royal  master,  and  that  during 
the  latter  years  of  the  war,  while  he  was  ahusing  the 
Whigs  the  most,  he  was  secretly  conveying  intelli- 
gence to  General  Washington  of  all  the  important 
movements  of  the  British  in  the  city.  See  Los- 
sing's  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution, 
ii.,691.  Rivington  died  in  New  York  in  July, 
1802,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years. 

'"'  Crean  Brush  was  a  conceited  and  sycophantic 
loyalist  in  New  York.  He  was  a  native  of  Cum- 
berland county,  (now  forming  a  part  of  the 
southern  portion  of  Vermont,  next  to  New  York,) 
and  member  of  the  Assembly.  In  February, 
1775,  he  made  a  speech  against  the  appointment 
of  delegates  to  the  second  Continental  Congress, 
which  was  published.  It  was  answered  by  Philip 
Schuyler  and  Greorge  Clinton.  He  continually 
opposed  Whig  measures ;  and  after  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  we  find  him  in  Boston,  ready,  with 
supple  muscles,  to  do  the  will  of  General  Howe, 
in  damaging  the  patriots. 

"  Dr.  Myles  Cooper,  referred  to  in  note  59. 

"  Isaac  Wilkins,  D.  D.,  was  the  son  of  a  rich 
West  India  planter,  and  when  quite  young  was 
sent  to  New  York  to  be  educated.  He  prepared 
himself  for  the  ministry,  but  did  not  take  orders 


Notes. 


199 


until  some  years  afterward.  He  settled  in  West- 
chester county,  became  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Assembly,  and  was  considered  a  leader  on 
the  ministerial  side.  He  had  great  influence,  and 
chiefly  through  his  instrumentality,  a  resolution  to 
pass  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  New  York  Delegates 
to  the  Continental  Congress,  offered  by  the  early 
martyr,  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  was  lost.  His 
speech  in  opposition  to  the  appointment  of  Dele- 
gates to  the  Second  Continental  Congress,  is  pre- 
served in  Sabine's  Lives  of  the  American  Loyal- 
ists. He  was  very  obnoxious  to  the  Whigs,  and 
young  Alexander  Hamilton  became  his  opponent 
with  the  pen.  Wilkins  soon  abandoned  the 
county,  went  to  England,  but  returned  to  Long 
Island  in  1776.  There  he  remained  until  the  end 
of  the  war,  when  he  retired  to  Shelburne,  in  Nova 
Scotia.  In  the  meanwhile  he  had  taken  orders  in 
the  Church ;  and  in  the  year  1800,  he  became  rec- 
tor of  an  Episcopal  parish  in  Westchester  county, 
where  he  continued  in  the  ministry  until  his  death, 
in  1830,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine  years. 

"  Samuel  Chandler  was  a  High  Church  clergy- 
man, in  New  York,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  in 
that  city  to  denounce  the  measures  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty.  He  became  very  obnoxious  to  the 
Whigs,  and  in  1775,  he  went  to  England,  and 
never  returned. 

'■*  Benjamin  Booth  was  a  stanch  loyalist,  and 
was  for  a  time  Secretary  of  the  Loyal  Refugees 


200 


Notes. 


PvP 


m' 


of  the  different  colonies,  whose  liead-quarters 
were  in  Now  York,  under  the  protection  of  Britinh 
arms.  lie  called  a  meeting  of  the  loyalists  in  that 
city  in  Soptenibor,  1778,  when,  it  appears,  about 
two  thousand  of  them  were  present. 

"  A  series  of  well- written  essays,  against  Whig 
measures,  over  the  signature  of  "  Massachusott- 
ensis,"  wore  published  in  Boston  papers,  bet  ween 
Deoomber,  1774,  and  April,  1775.  The  authorship 
was  long  attributed  to  Jonathan  Sewall,  but  they 
were  really  the  production  of  Daniel  Leonard,  of 
Taunton,  Massachusetts,  who  was  one  of  the 
Mandamus  Council.  [See  note  85].  Leonard 
was  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College,  was  bred  to 
the  law,  and  became  an  acute  logician,  and  power- 
ful political  writer.  He  was  a  member  of  tl\e 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  one  of 
the  barristers,  who,  in  1774,  signed  an  address  to 
Governor  Hutchinson.  Bullets  were  fired  into 
his  house  by  a  mob,  and  he  took  refuge  in  Boston 
in  May,  1775.  In  1776  he  accompanied  the 
British  army  to  Halifax,  and  afterward  became 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Bermudas.  He  died  in 
London  in  1829,  at  the  age  of  eighty -nine  years. 
His  essays,  above  alluded  to,  were  answered  by 
John  Adams,  over  the  signature  of  "  Novanglus," 
in  a  series  published  between  January  and  the 
19th  of  April,  1775.  Both  were  reprinted  in  1819 
with  a  preface  by  Mr.  Adams. 

'®  Those  powerful  and  widely-scattered  engines 


>i  ' 


Notes. 


201 


of  the  Revolution,  Committees  of  Gorrenpondence^ 
became  exceedingly  hateful  to  the  government  and 
the  loyalists.  Massachusetts  and  Virginia  have 
disputed  the  honor  of  originating  them.  They 
seem  to  have  been  conceived  by  leading  pa- 
triots almost  simultaneously  in  both  colonies, 
in  1773,  and  in  1774 ;  they  existed  all  over  the 
land.  They  were  the  depositories  and  distributors 
of  secret  information  of  every  kind,  and  through 
them,  concert  of  political  action  was  seen  every 
where,  from  New  Hampshire  to  Georgia.  Of. 
these  "  Massachusettensis  "  said,  "  This  is  the  foul- 
est, subtlest,  and  most  venomous  serpent  ever  issued 
from  the  egg  of  sedition.  It  is  the  source  of  the 
rebellion.  I  saw  the  small  seed  when  it  was 
implanted;  [by  Samuel  Adams]  it  was  a  grain 
of  mustard.  I  have  watched  the  plant  until  it 
has  become  a  great  tree.  The  vilest  reptiles  that 
crawl  upon  the  earth  are  concealed  at  the  root; 
the  foulest  birds  of  the  air  rest  upon  its  branches. 
I  now  would  induce  you  to  go  to  work  immedi- 
ately with  axes  and  hatchets  to  cut  it  down,  for  a 
twofold  reason ;  because  it  is  a  pest  to  society, 
and  lest  it  be  felled  suddenly,  by  a  stronger  arm, 
and  crush  its  thousands  in  its  fall." 

"  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Governor  of  Massachu- 
setts, from  1771  until  superseded  by  Gage,  in  the 
spring  of  1774.  He  was  a  native  of  that  province, 
held  many  important  public  offices,  and  wrote  a 
valuable  history  of  his  native  colony.   Some  of  his 


202 


f  j.  <   :■! 


ji 

h 

hi  '  ( 


Ell  V  ^' 


,T*!    »  ; 


Notes. 


obnoxious  acts  will  be  referred  to  hereafter.  He 
became  alarmed  for  his  personal  safety,  and  fled  to 
England.  The  allusion  of  the  poet  is  to  a  laudatory- 
address  which  loyalists  and  timid  Whigs  presented 
to  him,  just  before  his  departure.  He  died  in 
England  in  June,  1780. 

'®  Jonathan  Sewall  was  a  native  of  Massachu- 
setts, was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  became  a 
Bchool  teacher,  and  then  a  lawyer,  and  at  about 
the  year  1767,  was  appointed  Attorney-General  of 
•Massachusetts.  It  is  believed  that  he  was  dis- 
posed to  take  part  with  the  Whigs,  but  had  not 
the  courage.  He  and  John  Adams  were  intimate 
friends,  and  that  friendship  was  not  broken,  even 
after  Sewall  became  one  of  the  addressers  of 
Hutchinson  in  1774.  Later  in  the  season,  he 
tried  to  persuade  Adams  not  to  attend  the  Conti- 
nental Congress,  when  the  firm  patriot  used  those 
remarkable  words  :  "  The  die  is  now  cast ;  I  have 
now  passed  the  Rubicon ;  swim  or  sink,  live  or  die 
survive  or  perish,  with  my  country,  is  my  unal- 
terable determination."  They  never  met  again 
until  after  the  war.  Judge  Sewall  became  Gage's 
chief  adviser,  and,  it  is  said,  wrote  most  of  his 
proclamations.  He  was  an  essayist  of  some  dis- 
tinction. His  house  at  Cambridge  was  attacked 
by  a  mob,  and  he  fled  to  Boston ;  and  in  1775  he 
went  to  England,  and  resided  at  Bristol.  In 
1788,  he  came  to  America,  and  was  made  Judge 
of  Admiralty  in  the  province  of  New  Brunswick 


Notes. 


203 


r.  He 
[  fled  to 
udatory 
esented 
died  in 

i?isachu- 

jcame  a 

t  about 

leral  of 

7as  dis- 

bad  not 

ntimate 

m,  even 

sors  of 

son,  be 

Conti- 

d  tbose 

I  bave 

s  or  die 

^  unal- 

again 

Gage's 

of  bis 

ne  dis- 

tacked 

776  be 

1.     In 

Judge 

iswick 


I  i 


He  died  tbere  in  1796,  at  tbe  age  of  sixty-eigbt 
years.  His  wife  was  a  sister  of  Dorotby  Quincy, 
wife  of  Jobn  Hancock. 

"  Nathaniel  Mills  and  Jobn  Hicks  were  printers 
of  a  ministerial  paper  in  Boston.  Tbey  opened  a 
printing-bouse,  as  partners,  in  Scbool  street,  in 
1773,  and  tbeir  paper,  tbe  Massachusetts  Gazette 
and  Boston  Post  Boy^  became  tbe  government 
organ  in  tbat  city.  The  commencement  of  bos- 
tilities,  in  1775,  put  an  end  to  tbeir  paper,  and  tbe 
following  spring  tbey  accompanied  tbe  refugee 
loyalists  who  fled  to  Halifax  with  tbe  British 
army,  when  Washington  drove  it  out  of  Boston. 
Tbey  afterwards  opened  a  stationery  store  in  New 
York,  and  printed  some  for  tbe  royal  army  and 
navy.  They  were  among  tbe  New  York  refugees 
who  fled  to  Nova  Scotia,  at  tbe  close  of  tbe  war. 

^^  Margaret,  was  tbe  widow  of  Richard  Draper, 
printer  of  tbe  Massachusetts  Gazette  and  News 
Letter^  who  died  in  Boston,  in  June,  1774.  Mrs. 
Draper  continued  tbe  paper  after  tbe  death  of  her 
husband.  ,  She  became  bis  successor  as  printer  to 
tbe  Governor  and  Council,  and  continued  business 
while  tbe  British  were  in  possession  of  Boston.  It 
was  tbe  first  and  tbe  last  newspaper  published  in 
Boston,  previous  to  the  Declaration  of  Id  depen- 
dence. Mrs.  Draper  went  to  Halifax  with  tbe 
army,  and  from  thence  accompanied  friends  to 
England,  where  she  received  a  pension  until  her 
death,  a  few  years  afterward. 


204 


Notes. 


*^  Judge  Sewall  wrote  a  farce  called  America 
Arouse.  It  was  a  dull  affair — a  farce  of  itself, 
aud  not  to  bo  laughed  at. 

^^  The  oppressive  provisions  of  the  Boston  Port 
Bill,  went  into  effect  on  the  first  of  June,  1774. 
The  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts  ap- 
pointed that  day  as  one  of  solemn  fasting  aud 
prayer,  for  the  people  of  the  province. 

^^  In  various  places  the  people  had  signed  a 
League,  agreeing  not  to  import  or  use  tea  in  any 
way,  while  a  duty  levied  by  government  without 
the  consent  of  the  colonists,  remained  upon  that 
article.  Yet  men  were  found  among  loyalists 
bold  enough  to  brave  public  opinion  by  becoming 
consignees.  Intelligence  reached  America  that 
ships  laden  with  tea  were  crossing  the  ocean. 
The  people  gathered,  and  made  preparations  in 
several  seaport  towns  to  prevent  the  landing  of 
the  cargoes.  Two  tea  ships  arrived  in  Boston, 
late  in  1773.  The  consignees  were  warned  of 
danger,  but  refused  to  listen.  They  were  threat- 
ened by  mobs ;  and  one  of  them,  Richard  Clarke, 
had  his  house  damaged  by  missies  thrown  by  a 
crowd  of  excited  people.  Finally,  on  the  evening 
of  the  16th  of  December,  a  party,  many  of  them 
disguised,  went  on  board  the  tea  ships,  and  cast 
their  contents  into  Boston  Harbor.  The  con- 
signees were  despised  as  supple  tools  of  the 
British  ministry,  and  this  popular  demonstration 


i* 


Notes. 


205 


merxca 
■  itself, 

)ii  Port 
5,  1774. 
tts  ap- 
Dg  aud 

gned  a 
in  any 
without 
on  that 
loyalists 
Bcoming 
ca  that 
ocean, 
bions  in 
ing  of 
Boston, 
ned  of 
threat- 
Clarke, 
n  by  a 
3vening 
»f  them 
nd  cast 
ne   con- 
of   the 
tration 


kept  them  quiet  and  inactive  ever  afterward.     See 
note  31,  Canto  iii. 

^  Peter  Oliver,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  was 
made,  first  a  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court,  and 
then  Chief  Justice  of  the  province,  notwithstand- 
ing he  was  not  bred  a  lawyer,  nor  possessed  a 
knowledge  of  legal  science.  He  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  in  1730,  and  possessed  some  learning 
and  fair  abilities,  but  was  totally  unfit  for  the  high 
office  which  he  held.  Because  he  received  his 
salary  direct  from  the  crown,  instead  of  the  people 
of  Massachusetts,  and  thus  became  independent 
of  the  latter,  he  was  impeached  in  1774,  and  soon 
afterward  went  to  England.  He  died  at  Birming- 
ham, in  the  autumn  of  1791. 

^'^  A  writ  of  mandamus  is  a  command  from  a 
high  power,  to  any  person,  corporation,  or  inferior 
court,  requiring  them  to  do  some  specified  act 
which  appertains  to  their  office  or  duty.  By  the 
charter  of  Massachusetts,  the  Council  had  always 
been  elective,  but  by  one  of  the  bills  passed  by 
Parliament  in  the  spring  of  1774,  that  charter 
was  declared  void,  and  the  King  appointed  a 
council  by  mandamus.  They  were,  of  course, 
chosen  from  among  the  loyalists,  and  many  of  them 
accepted  the  office,  and  took  the  prescribed  oath. 
These  councillors  became  very  detestable  to  the 
Whigs,  who  regarded  their  act  as  equivalent  to 
joining  the  crown  in  its  oppressions. 


206 


Notes. 


l!    '■     / 


t?i   H 


*•  "  A  proper  emblem  of  his  genius,"  says 
Trumbull. 

"  John  Murray  was  a  native  of  Rutland,  in 
Massachusetts,  a  colonel  of  militia,  and  for  several 
years  a  member  of  the  General  Court.  He  was 
one  of  the  Mandamus  Council,  but  was  not  sworn 
into  office.  Menaced  by  the  Whigs,  ho  abandoned 
his  house  in  the  night,  fled  to  Boston,  and  accom- 
panied the  British  army  to  Halifax  in  1776. 
After  the  war,  Colonel  Murray  became  a  resident 
of  St.  Johns,  New  Brunswick.  His  large  pro- 
perty in  the  United  States  was  confiscated,  yet  he 
left  a  handsome  estate  in  St.  Johns. 

®^  Timothy  Buggies  was  an  old  stager  in  public 
life,  having  been  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Assembly  as  early  as  1736.  He  was  a  man  of  de- 
cided talents  and  energy,  a  lawyer  by  profession,  but 
for  many  years  was  a  tavern-keeper  in  Sandwich. 
He  loved  military  life,  attained  to  the  rank  of  a 
brigadier-general,  and  led  a  body  of  troops  to  join 
Sir  William  Johnson,  in  1755.  He  was  distin- 
guished in  the  battle  at  the  head  of  Lake  George 
that  year.  Two  years  afterward,  he  was  appointed 
a  Judge ;  and  in  1765,  he  was  one  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts delegates  to  the  "  Stamp  Act  Congress," 
assembled  at  New  York.  He  was  President  of 
that  body,  but  his  conduct  was  so  loyal  toward 
the  crown,  that  he  was  censured  by  the  Assembly 
of  his  province.  When  the  Revolution  broke  out, 
he  was  a  violent  opponent  of  the  Whigs,  and 


» 


says 


land,  in 
•  several 
He  was 
)t  sworn 
andoned 
I  accom- 
n  1776. 
resident 
rge  pro- 
1,  yet  he 

in  public 

ichusetts 

,n  of  de- 

sion,  but 

mdwicli. 

ink  of  a 

to  join 

distin- 

George 

pointed 

I  Massa- 

igress," 

dent  of 

toward 

ssembly 

)ke  out, 

jis,  and 


Notes. 


207 


crowned  his  detested  acts  by  becoming  a  Manda- 
mus Councillor.  His  house  was  attacked,  his 
cattle  were  injured,  and  in  terror,  he  fled  to  Boston, 
and  endeavored  to  raise  a  volunteer  corps  of 
loyalists.  He  then  proposed  associations  to  act 
against  the  Whigs;  and  when  the  British  army 
fled  to  Halifax,  he  was  among  the  refugee  loyalists 
who  accompanied  it.  He  afterwards  appeared 
upon  Long  Island  and  Staten  Island,  and  succeeded 
in  raising  a  military  corps  of  about  three  hundred 
men,  called  the  Loyal  Militia^  but  he  did  not  per- 
form much  service  with  them.  His  property  was 
confiscated  in  1779,  and  he  went  to  Nova  Scotia 
at  the  conclusion  of  the  war.  He  died  in  1798, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Mercy  Warren, 
in  her  drama  called  The  Group,  gives  him  the 
character  of  Hate-all,  because  he  was  a  sort  of 
social  Ishmael. 

^^  Josiah  Edson,  of  Bridgewater,  Massachusetts, 
was  an  active  politician,  and  was  known  by  the 
odious  names  of  Rescinder  and  Mandamus  Coun- 
cillor. He  was  a  man  of  weak  courage,  and  was 
rather  a  passive  than  an  active  loyalist,  yet  a 
mob  attacked  his  house,  and  he  was  compelled  to 
flee  to  Boston  for  safety,  in  1774.  He  went  to 
Halifax  in  1776,  and  afterwards  became  a  resident 
in  the  city  (or  its  vicinity)  of  New  York,  where 
he  died.  He  is  represented  as  an  amiable,  virtuous 
and  highly  respectable  man.  But  mobs  make  no 
distinction  of  persons,  if  their  avowed  principles 
are  offensive. 


\^ 


208 


Notes 


^1 


Hfi 


l:,l 


'1   I 


M.i ;  I 


•*  Nathaniel  Ray  Thomas  was  a  resident  of 
Marshfield,  and  a  graduate  of  Harvard  University 
in  1751.  Having  become  a  member  of  the 
Mandamus  Council,  he  shared  in  the  afflictions  of 
that  unhappy  body,  who  seemed  to  receive  the 
special  attention  of  mobs.  He  went  to  Halifax 
in  1776,  and  in  1778  his  property  was  confiscated. 
He  died  in  Nova  Scotia  in  1791. 

"  This  was  Joshua  Loring,  0"  Massachusetts, 
whose  property  was  confiscated,  and  himself  ban- 
ished. He  became  British  commissary  of  prison- 
ers in  Boston,  and  is  charged  with  the  perpetra- 
tion of  most  outrageous  cruelties  toward  them. 
It  is  affirmed  that  when  he  fled  to  England,  his 
wife  did  not  accompany  him,  but  remained  as  mis- 
tress of  General  Sir  William  Howe.  An  allusion 
is  made  to  her  in  Francis  Hopkinson's  Battle  of 
the  Kegs,  as  "  Mrs.   L ^g."     Loring  left  be- 


hind him  a  name  most  odious,  and  he  never  re- 
turned to  America.  He  died  in  England,  in  1782. 
^^  Sir  William  Pepperell  was  a  descendant  of 
the  first  of  that  name,  who  settled  in  Maine,  and 
was  knighted  by  William  the  Third.  He  was* 
educated  at  Harvard  University,  and  was  after- 
wards one  of  the  Council  of  Massachusetts.  He 
was  continued  in  that  office  under  the  mandamus 
of  the  King  in  1774,  and,  of  course,  became  very 
odious  to  the  people.  He  was  denounced  by  his 
neighbors,  and  in  fear  he  fled  to  Boston.  He  and 
his  wife  started  for  England  in  1775,  but  she  died 


Notes. 


209 


lent  of 
iverHity 
of  the 
tious  of 
ive  the 
Halifax 
iscatod. 

husetts, 
3lf  ban- 
prison- 
erpetra- 
i  them, 
and,  his 
[  as  mis- 
allusion 
attle  of 
eft  be- 
ever  re- 
1782. 
dant  of 
ine,  and 
He  waS' 
,s  after- 
s.     He 
ndamus 
me  very 
by  his 
He  and 
he  died 


on  the  passage.  Ho  was  proscribed  and  banished  by 
the  aet  of  1778,  and  the  following  year  his  property 
was  confiscated,  under  the  onspirticy  act.  He 
was  aji  active,  benevolent  and  very  useful  citizen, 
and  became  one  of  the  founders  of  tlie  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  lie  was  also  Presi- 
dent of  the  Association  of  Loyalists,  in  London, 
formed  in  1779.  He  never  returned  to  America. 
lie  died  at  his  residence  on  Portman  S<|uare,  in 
December,  1816,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He 
appears  in  West's  celebrated  picture,  the  "  Recep- 
tion of  the  American  Loyalists  by  Great  Britain, 
in  1783,"  a  copy  of  which  may  be  found  in  Lossing's 
Field  Book  of  the  Revolution^  vol.  ii.  page  607. 

^'  William  Browne  was  a  grandson  of  Governor 
Burnet,  was  owner  of  an  immense  landed  estate, 
and  was  one  of  the  hated  Mandamus  Councillors. 
He  was  an  active  and  popular  man  in  Massachu- 
setts, prior  to  the  Revolution.  He  was  compelled 
to  leave  in  1776 ;  and  in  1779,  his  property  was 
confiscated,  and  he  became  an  exile  in  England. 
Afterward  he  was  appointed  Governor  of  the 
Bermudas.     He  died  in  England  in  1802. 

^*  John  Erving,  Jr.,  of  Boston,  was  an  addresser 
of  both  Hutchinson  and  Gage,  and  a  Mandamus 
Councillor.  He  was  therefore  double-dyed  in 
iniquity  in  the  eyes  of  the  Whigs.  He  lied  to 
Halifax  in  1776,  and  from  thence  to  England. 
He  was  perpetually  banished,  and  his  property 
being  confiscated  by  the  conspiracy  act  of  1779, 


2IO 


Notes. 


tii  ( 


;.«  .1 


he  never  returned  to  his  native  country.  He  died 
in  England  in  1816,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine 
years. 

*'  Henry  the  Eighth,  of  England,  established 
Protestantism  as  the  religion  of  the  State,  at  about 
the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  during 
the  reign  of  his  son  Edward,  which  commenced  in 
1574,  the  tangible  line,  of  doctrinal  difference 
between  Luther  and  Calvin  was  drawn.  The  fol- 
lowers of  the  former  allowed  many  of  the  ceremo- 
nials of  the  Church  of  Rome.  Those  of  the  latter 
were  more  austere,  demanded  more  simplicity  in 
the  public  worship,  and  great  purity  of  life.  On 
the  latter  account,  they  were  called  Puritans^ 
in  derision.  They  were  afterwards  persecuted  by 
both  the  Eoman  Catholics  and  the  English  church- 
men. Many  fled  to  Holland,  and  from  the  Puritan 
congregation  there,  came  the  Pilgrim  Fathers, 
who  commenced  settlements  in  New  England,  in 
1620. 

**  Harrison  Gray  was  Treasurer,  or  Receiver- 
General  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  an  addressor 
of  Hutchinson,  and  one  of  Gage's  Mandamus 
Council.  He  became  greatly  detested  by  the 
Whigs  on  that  account,  and  especially  because  of 
a  pamphlet  which  he  wrote,  in  which  he  charged 
the  Congress  of  Philadelphia  with  being  drunk 
when  they  sigued  the  Continental  Association.  A 
copy  of  the  Association  may  be  found  in  the  journals 
of  the  first  Congress,  in  1774.     At  the  evacuation 


Notes. 


211 


[e  died 
ty-nine 

blished 
t  about 
during 
need  in 
fference 
Che  fol- 
ceremo- 
e  latter 
icity  in 
•e.  On 
tritans, 
iited  by 
church- 
uritan 
'athers, 
and,  in 

eceiver- 
dressor 
ndamus 
by  the 
3ause  of 
sharged 
drunk 
iion.  A 
ournals 
cuatiou 


of  Boston  by  the  British,  he  went,  with  others,  to 
Halifax,  and  from  thence  to  England,  where  he 
died.  On  leaving,  he  parted  with  his  only  daugh- 
ter, who  was  the  first  wife  of  Samuel  Otis,  father 
of  the  late  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  of  Boston.  Mr. 
Gray  was  an  excellent  man,  in  every  relation  of 
life,  and  did  not  deserve  the  harsh  language  here 
made  use  of  by  the  poet. 

*'  The  Earl  of  Dartmouth  succeeded  the  Earl 
of  Hillsborough  as  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
Colonies  in  1772,  and  was  in  that  station  when  the 
Revolution  broke  out.  He  was  considered  rather 
friendly  to  the  colonies  at  first ;  and  was  always 
favorable  to  mild  measures.  He  and  Doctor 
Franklin  were  warm  personal  friends. 

®^  The  "  prime  saint "  alluded  to  was  Governor 
Hutchinson,  who  always  professed  great  friendship 
for  the  people  of  his  native  province.  His  own 
letters  proved  his  hypocrisy,  for  while  he  W'^s 
making  these  professions,  he  was  writing  to  the 
ministry,  declaring  the  necessity,  in  order  to 
maintain  government  in  Massachusetts,  of  destroy- 
ing the  charter,  abridging  what  he  termed  English 
liberties^  making  Judges  dependant  only  upon  the 
Crown,  and  creating  a  nobility  in  America ! 
Some  of  these  letters  were  secretly  placed  in  the 
hands  of  Dr.  Franklin,  then  Provincial  Agent  at 
the  English  Court,  and  he  transmitted  them  to 
Boston.  '  Soon  afterward,  (1773,)  finding  himself 
suspected  of  advising  the  ministry  to  employ  op- 


212 


Notes 


s 

1 

> 

r ' 

li 

i 

1 

lilt  t* 


pressive  measures,  he  declared,  in  a  message  to 
the  Assembly,  that  he  had  ever  been  an  advocate 
of  the  rights  of  the  province  contained  in  the 
charter,  and  the  equal  liberties  of  the  coloni«ts 
with  other  British  subjects.  His  letters  were 
then  published,  and  gave  the  lie  to  all  his  preten- 
sions. The  excitement  which  they  produced  was 
intense,  and,  for  a  time,  his  person  was  in  great 
danger. 

^^  When  Hutchinson  fled  to  England,  a  spirit 
of  revenge,  uniting  with  his  real  sentiments 
respecting  government  in  America,  caused  him  to 
strongly  urge  Lord  North  to  turn  the  screw  of 
oppression  still  closer,  and  he  remained  a  bitter 
and  uncompromising  enemy  of  the  Americans. 

^''^  After  the  events  at  Lexington  and  Concord, 
Boston  was  menaced  by  an  exasperated  multitude, 
and  General  Grage  became  alarmed.  He  aban- 
doned his  haughty  tone  and  demeanor,  and  sought 
an  interview  with  the  select  men,  as  the  municipal 
trustees  were  called.  A  town  meeting  was  held 
on  the  22d  of  April,  and  an  agreement  was 
entered  into  between  the  local  authorities  and  the 
Governor,  "  That  upon  the  inhabitants  in  general 
lodging  their  arms  in  Faneuil  Hall,  or  any  other 
convenient  place,  under  the  care  of  the  select  men, 
marked  with  the  names  of  their  respective  owners, 
all  such  inhabitants  that  are  inclined,  might  leave 
the  town  with  their  families  and  effects,"  &c.,&c. 
The  Tories  remonstrated  with  Gage,  and  working 


Notes. 


213 


sage  to 
ivocate 
in  the 
oloni°ts 
■3  were 
preten- 
ced  was 
a  great 

a  spirit 
itiments 

him  to 
crew  of 
a  bitter 
cans. 
!)oncord, 
lititude, 
aban- 

sought 
unicipal 
TSiS  held 
3nt   was 

and  the 

general 
ly  other 
ect  men, 

owners, 
ht  leave 

&/C.,&C. 

working 


upon  his  fears  in  another  way,  caused  him  to  put 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  people  who  desired  to 
leave,  and  finally,  to  refuse  to  grant  passes  alto- 
gether. He  concluded  it  was  better  to  keep  the 
Whigs  in  the  city,  as  hostages  for  the  good  beha- 
vior of  their  brethren  outside,  for  really, 

"  They  were  the  only  gaards  that  saved  him." 

^^^  When  the  news  of  the  skirmishes  at  Lexing- 
ton and  Concord  swept  over  New  England,  the 
people  flocked  toward  Boston  by  hundreds  and 
thousands,  resolved  to  chain  the  tiger  upon  that 
peninsula,  or  drive  him  into  the  sea.  Israel 
Putnam,  a  veteran  of  the  French  and  Indian  War, 
and  then  a  brigadier-general  of  the  Connecticut 
militia,  was  among  the  earliest  of  the  rallying 
minute-men  of  the  East,  and  took  command  of 
the  motley  host  by  common  consent,  at  first. 
Gage  well  knew  the  spirit  of  the  man,  and  was 
in  daily  expectation  that  he  would  force  his 
way  into  Boston,  and  "  mutton  him ; "  in 
other  words,  destroy  him  and  his  army.  Putnam 
was  afterwards  appointed  one  of  the  four  major- 
generals,  commissioned  by  Congress  to  assist  in 
the  command  of  the  Continental  Army ;  and  he 
served  his  country  well,  until  disabled  by  paralysis, 
in  1779.  He  lived  in  retirement  after  the  war, 
and  died  in  Brooklyn,  Wyndham  county,  Con- 
necticut, on  the  29th  of  May,  1790,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  years. 


b;  :'! 


\  I 


214 


Notes. 


hill' 
m 


11 


V' 


i' 


', 


"'^  Numbers,  chapter  xxx. 

^"^  In  1706,  the  /Sows  of  Liberty,  in  New  York, 
as  the  associated  patriots  who  opposed  the  Stump 
Act  were  called,  after  dining  at  Montague's,  and 
procuring  the  sanction  of  the  Governor,  erected  a 
mast  or  tall  pole  a  little  north-east  of  the  present 
City  Hall,  in  front  of  Warren  street,  and  upon  it 
was  inscribed,  "  To  his  most  gracious  majesty, 
George  the  Third,  Wm.  Pitt  and  Liberty."  These 
poles  were  erected  afterward,  and  elsewhere,  and 
became  known  as  "  Liberty  poles,"  a  name  which 
they  still  bear.  Around  these  poles  the  patriots  as- 
sembled, and  near  them  they  sometimes  punished 
Tory  offenders,  by  stripping  them  naked,  pouring 
warm  tar  over  them,  and  then  emptying  a  bag  of 
feathers  upon  them.  There  were  certain  large  trees 
in  Boston,  Norwich,  Charleston  and  other  places, 
where  the  Whigs  assembled,  which  were  called 
Liberty  trees.  These  became  very  obnoxious  to  the 
friends  of  government,  and  attempts  were  often  made 
to  out  them  down.  The  one  in  Boston,  which 
stood  at  the  corner  of  the  present  Washington  and 
Essex  streets,  opposite  the  Boylston  Market,  was 
cut  down  by  the  British  in  1775,  with  great 
parade.  A  soldier  was  killed  by  falling  from  its 
branches,  during  the  operation,  of  whom  some 
poetic  wit  of  the  day  wrote : 

"  Pale  turned  the  wretch — he  spread  each  helpless  hand, 
But  sproftd  in  vain — with  headlong  force  he  fell, 
Nor  stopped  descending  till  he  stopped  in  hell  I  " 


No 


TES. 


lis 


w  York, 
B  Stamp 
le's,  and 
rected  a 
present 
upon  it 
najesty, 
'  These 
3re,  and 
e  which 
riots  aa- 
unished 
pouring 

bag  of 
ge  trees 

places, 
1  called 
s  to  the 
m  made 
,  which 
ton  and 
et,  was 
L  great 
rom  its 
1  some 

i  hand, 


^^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  church  discipline  of 
New  England,  when  a  person  was  obliged  to  stand 
in  the  aisle,  called  the  "  broad  alley,"  name  the 
offence  he  had  committed,  and  ask  pardon  of  his 
brethren. 


CANTO    II 

^  This  refers  to  the  thrice-repeated  words  "  Oh 
yes !  "  used  in  opening  courts,  and  as  a  preface  to 
verbal  proclamations,  and  the  commencement  of 
the  business  of  public  meetings. 

*  The  person  here  alluded  to,  was  William 
Laud,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  was  the 
Primate,  or  Chief  Ecclesiastical  officer  of  England, 
during  a  portion  of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  First. 
He  succeeded  Abbot  as  primate,  in  1633,  and  at 
the  same  time  he  was  the  prime  minister  of  State. 
He  held  these  exalted  offices  with  a  firm  and  steady 
rein,  and  with  great  energy  he  endeavored  to  re- 
press the  Puritan  spirit.  The  persecutions  which 
he  employed  drove  some  of  the  best  men  from 
England  to  America ;  and,  it  is  said,  that  even 
John  Hampden,  and  Oliver  Cromwell,  were,  at  one 
time,  on  the  eve  of  embarkation  for  the  New 
World.  Laud  became  very  obnoxious  to  all  who 
disliked  the  hierarchy,  and  he  was  accused  of  high 
crimes,  which  were  not  proven  against  him.  Popular 


2l6 


Notes. 


W 


m 


hatred  demanded  his  blood.  The  peers,  overborne 
by  the  prevailing  sentiment,  pronounced  him 
guilty,  and  he  was  beheaded  on  Tower  Hill,  on  the 
10th  of  January,  1645,  when  71  years  of  age. 
That  was  four  years  before  his  royal  master 
met  the  same  fate.  Laud  was  an  honest  but  mis- 
taken man.  We  must  judge  him  by  the  spirit  of 
the  times  in  which  he  lived. 

^  In  the  edition  of  M'Fingal,  revised  by  tlie 
author  and  published  in  1820,  there  are  the  four 
following  lines,  immediately  preceding  this  : 

"  Who'd  seen,  except  for  these  restraints, 
Your  Witches,  Quakers,  Whigs,  and  Saints, 
Or  heard  of  Mather's  famed  Ifagnalia, 
If  Charles  and  Laud  had  chanced  to  fail  you  ?  " 

The  allusion  to  Cotton  Mather  refers  to  his  book 
called  Magnalia,  in  which  he  gives  a  ridiculous 
history  of  pretended  miracles  which  occurred 
during  the  first  years  of  the  settlement  of  New 
England.  In  his  "Wonders  of  the  Invisible 
World,"  Mather  gave  an  account  of  the  delusion 
known  as  the  Salem  Witchcraft.  Mather  was  a 
man  of  learning,  yet  he  was  a  believer  in  witches. 
Although  the  settlements  in  America  were 
nearly  all  made  by  private  individuals,  and  at  the 
expense  of  private  capital,  the  King  claimed  to 
own  the  lands  discovered  by  his  subjects  in  the 
New  World,  and  they  were  compelled  to  procure 
grants  from  him,  by  which  certain  privileges  were 


Notes. 


217 


rerborne 
ed    him 

11,  on  the 
of   age. 
master 
but  mis- 
spirit  of 

by  tlie 
the  four 

s: 


ts, 


you 


9 '» 


lis  book 
iiculous 
iccurred 
of  New 
nvisible 
[elusion 
r  was  a 
rtritches. 
a  were 
1  at  the 
med  to 
in  the 
procure 
es  were 


given  to  the  proprietor,  who  made  the  settlements. 
These  charters  were  the  original  fundamental  laws 
of  all  the  colonies.  That  given  to  Rhode  Island  by 
Charles  the  Second  remained  in  force  as  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  State  until  1 843,  when  the  people 
made  a  new  one.  The  first  charters  were  often 
annulled,  and  new  ones  were  given ;  and  those 
charters  in  which  privileges  were  defined  were 
regarded  by  the  people  with  great  reverence.  I  have 
already  referred  in  Note  30,  Canto  L,to  the  boasts 
of  English  statesmen,  concerning  aids  given  to  the 
colonists. 

*  Although  the  ancient  feud  between  France  and 
England,  as  well  as  a  difference  in  religion,  caused 
the  English  and  French  settlers  in  America  to 
regard  each  other  as  rivals,  yet  it  was  doubtless 
the  quarrels  of  the  parent  government  that  made 
them  actual  and  open  enemies,  and  brought  them 
into  bloody  conflicts.  And  in  those  wars  the 
colonists  bore  much  more  than  their  own  proper 
share  of  the  burden. 

^  Generals  Braddock,  Abercrombie,  Amherst, 
Loudoun,  Wolfe  and  others,  were  sent  over  to  con- 
duct the  war  that  broke  out  in  1755,  and  oftentimes 
by  their  folly,  arrogance,  or  tardiness,  they  thwarted 
the  more  enterprising  provincials,  and  stood  in  the 
way  of  success.  On  the  field  where  Braddock  was 
killed,  death  and  desolation  were  spread  in  all 
directions,  until  the  fall  of  that  officer,  and  others, 
placed  the  command  in  the  hands  of  young  Wash- 
10 


2l8 


Notes. 


m 


>!>  »•  J 


ington,  when  the  fortunes  of  the  day  wore  imme- 
diately changed.  In  almost  every  instance,  the 
provincial  officers  were  more  efficient  than  those 
of  the  regular  array.  The  history  of  the  tardiness 
and  stupidity  of  Loudoun  forms  a  disgraceful  chap- 
ter in  the  records  of  England.  Wolfe  and  Am- 
herst were  the  most  efficient  of  all  the  English  of- 
ficers who  were  sent  to  America  during  the  French 
and  Indian  War. 

*  The  energy  and  justice  of  Pitt  were  greatly 
applauded  by  the  Americans ;  and  when,  in  the 
spring  of  1759,  his  splendid  scheme  for  the  con- 
quest of  Canada  was  to  be  put  into  execution,  the 
provincials  flocked  to  the  standards  of  their  chiefs 
with  such  alacrity,  that  the  quota  of  soldiers  called 
for  was  far  ovceeded  by  numbers.  When  Amherst 
came,  he  fouud  twenty  thousand  troops  at  his  dis> 
posal,  and  many  others  were  eager  to  join  the  royal 
army. 

^  The  first  step  toward  the  establishment  of 
Episcopacy  in  America  was  at  about  the  year  1748, 
when  Dr.  Seeker,  archbishop  of  Canterbury,  not 
only  proposed  the  matter,  but  offered  the  mitre  to 
several  Puritan  divines.  Whitefield,  the  cele- 
brated field-preacher,  said  to  Dr.  Langdon,  of 
Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  at  about  that  time, 
"  I  can't  in  conscience  leave  this  town  without  ac- 
quainting you  with  a  secret.  My  heart  bleeds  for 
America.  0  poor  New  England !  There  is  a 
deep-laid  plot  against  both  your  civil  and  religious 


5  imme- 
ace,  the 
,n  those 
irdiness 
ul  chap- 
ad  Am- 
glish  of- 
French 

greatly 
,  in  the 
the  con- 
ion,  the 
Lr  chiefs 
:s  called 
Amherst 
his  dis- 
le  royal 

nent  of 
ir  1748, 
iry,  not 
aitre  to 
e  cele- 
on,  of 
it  time, 
out  ac- 
;eds  for 
•e  is  a 
digious 


Notes. 


219 


liberties,  and  they  will  be  lost.  Your  golden  days 
are  at  an  end — ^you  have  nothing  but  trouble  be- 
fore you Your  liberties  will  be  lost." 

He  referred  to  the  scheme  then  in  preparation  by 
the  English  hierarchy.  The  first  important  step 
was  the  sending  over  several  Episcopal  clergymen 
as  missionaries,  who  had  been  ordained  by  the 
Bishop  of  London.  These  settled  in  the  colonies ; 
and  those  at  the  North,  especially,  became  attached 
to  the  royal  cause.  The  intention  was  to  have  the 
New  England  churches  ruled  by  bishops ;  but  the 
Revolution  swept  the  whole  plan  into  oblivion. 

^  The  simple  fact  of  sending  troops  to  America 
to  awe  the  people,  produced  much  irritation  in  the 
provinces ;  but  when  the  colonists  were  called 
upon  to  contribute  toward  the  support  of  these 
troops,  they  regarded  the  matter  as  downright  op- 
pression. The  New  York  Assembly  refused  to 
vote  supplies,  and  for  this  contumacious  act.  Par- 
liament, in  1767,  passed  an  act,  "  prohibiting  the 
Governor,  Council,  and  Assembly  of  New  York, 
passing  any  legislative  act  for  any  purpose  what- 
ever." This  alarming  disability  caused  the  legis- 
lature of  that  province  to  make  some  concessions^ 
yet  the  point  was  not  yielded  until  1769,  when  a 
small  appropriation  was  made  for  the  support  of  the 
troops.  In  Boston,  the  insolence  of  the  troops 
greatly  irritated  the  people,  and  finally  they  came 
to  an  open  rupture  early  in  March,  1770,  which 
resulted  in  the  death  of  several  citizens.     This 


220 


Notes. 


!l    r 


.1:       I 


event  is  known  in  history  as  The  Boston  Massa* 
ere.  So  in  Wilmington  in  North  Carolina,  and 
in  Charleston  in  South  Carolina,  and  other  places, 
the  people  were  exceedingly  restiff  under  the 
frowns  of  a  military  despotism. 

*  It  has  been  asserted  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
old  English  peerage,  created  previous  to  the  close 
of  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  have  originated 
from  the  illegitimate  progeny  of  the  kings.  It  is 
to  this  fact,  and  the  grievance  of  having  such  men 
hold  all  of  the  best  offices  of  trust  and  emolument 
in  the  kingdom,  that  the  author  here  alludes. 

^"  At  that  time  the  urgent  calls  of  an  exchequer, 
depleted  by  recent  wars  and  increasing  pensions, 
caused  the  levying  of  very  heavy  taxes,  even  in 
Scotland  and  Ireland,  where,  hitherto,  they  had 
been  less  than  in  England.  The  Scotc'j  mur- 
mured, and  the  Irish  endured  the  burden  with  a 
bad  grace,  while  the  English  people  themselves, 
borne  down  by  taxation,  sympathized  with  their 
brethren  in  America,  in  their  resistance  to  the 
same  form  of  oppression.  The  chief  cause  of  com- 
plaint was  the  pensioning  of,  and  giving  sinecure 
places  to,  undeserving  scions  of  royalty  or  the  aris- 
tocracy. And  the  Americans  justly  complained 
that  the  best  offices  in  the  colonies  were  filled  by 
such  men,  to  the  exclusion  of  native-born  citizens, 
who  could  justly  boast  of  superior  intelligence  and 
virtue.  \ 

'    "  Sir  David  Dalrymple  was  a  ministerial  writer 


Notes. 


221 


m  Massa' 
rolina,  and 
ber  places, 
under  the 

tion  of  the 
0  the  close 
originated 
ngs.  It  is 
V  such  men 
emolument 

[ludes. 
exchequer, 
g  pensions, 
Bs,  even  in 
they  had 
cotc'j  mur- 
rden  with  a 
themselves, 
with  their 
mce  to  the 
luse  of  com- 
ag  sinecure 
'  or  the  aris- 
complained 
re  filled  by 
>rn  citizens, 
lligence  and 

terial  writer 


of  some  eminence,  and  a  lawyer  and  antiijuarian 
of  note  in  Edinburgh.  He  undertook  at  one  time 
to  prove  that  all  of  the  celebrated  British  patriots, 
in  the  time  of  the  civil  war,  were  pensioners,  in 
the  pay  of  France.  He  based  his  charges  upon 
the  alleged  fact,  that  the  letters  of  the  French  am- 
bassadors in  England  disclosed  the  significant  se- 
cret, that  thousands  of  guineas  were  paid  by  them 
to  Algernon  Sydney,  John  Hampden,  &o.  He 
also  alleged  that  Admiral  Russell  deteated  the 
French  fleet  at  a  time  when  he  was  under  a  solemn 
engagement,  and  had  received  a  stipulated  sum,  to 
be  beaten  himself.  How  far  truth  will  support  a 
theory  founded  on  these  alleged  facts,  cannot  be 
easily  determined.  But  it  was  from  premises  like 
these,  that  Sir  David  argued  that  "  public  virtue 
was  but  a  name." 

^^  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  also  wrote  against  the 
Americans.  His  pamphlet  entitled  Taxation  no 
Tyranny  is  an  able  paper.  He,  too,  had  no  faith 
in  patriots  so  called,  and  in  public  virtue.  Like 
Cardinal  Richelieu,  he  believed  that  every  man 
had  his  price.  A  poet  of  the  time,  in  an  epigram, 
intimated  that  the  doctor's  price  was  paid  to  him 
for  his  defence  of  ministers. 

^^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  noble  words  of  Samuel 
Adams,  in  the  first  Continental  Congress,  when  a 
proposition  of  Joseph  Galloway  to  make  con- 
cessions to  Great  Britain  elicited  a  Avarm  debate. 
Adams  regarded  the.  proposition  as  a  concession  to 


r 


'■// 


.'I  'I 


222 


Notes. 


tyranny,  and,  his  soul  kindling  ^Ith  patriotic  zoal, 
he  exclaimed  :  "  I  should  advise  persisting  in  our 
struggle  for  liberty,  though  it  were  revealed  from 
Heaven  that  nine  hundred  and  niiioty-nine  were 
to  perish,  and  only  one  of  a  thousand  were  to  sur- 
vive and  retain  his  liberty  I  One  such  freeman 
must  possess  more  virtue,  and  enjoy  more  happi- 
ness, than  a  thousand  slaves ;  and  let  him  propo- 
gate  his  like,  and  transmit  to  them  what  he  has  so 
liobly  preserved." 

"  Sir  Jeffrey  Amherst,  who  commanded  the 
British  troops  in  America,  in  the  final  conquest  of 
Canada. 

^^  Amherst  declared,  on  the  floor  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  that  with  five  thousand  regular 
troops,  he  could  march  from  one  end  of  the  con- 
tinent to  the  other,  unmolested.  Gage  repeated 
the  foolish  boast  to  Putnam,  who  instantly  replied, 
"  So  you  might,  if  they  behaved  themselves,  and 
paid  for  what  they  got ;  if  not,  the  women  would 
knock  your  soldiers  in  the  head  with  their 
ladles." 

**  Colonel  Grant  was  a  meritorious  officer  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War,  and  was  the  successful 
leader  of  an  expedition  against  the  Cherokees  in 
1761.  He  was  a  brigadier  at  the  commencement  of 
the  Revolution,  and  led  the  division  of  the  British 
army  in  the  battle  near  Brooklyn,  at  the  close  of  the 
summer  of  1776,  which  first  engaged  the  Americans 
under  Lord  Stirling.     Grant  made  assertions  siuii- 


Notes. 


223 


otic  zoal,  , 
12  in  our 
lied  from 
line  were 
re  to  sur- 
freeman 
»re  happi- 
im  propo- 
lie  has  80 

nded  the 
)nquest  of 

he  House 
d  regular 
f  the  con- 
!  repeated 
y  replied, 
elves,  and 
len  would 
ith    their 

cer  in  the 
successful 
irokees  in 
cement  of 
he  British 
.osG  of  the 
Americana 
ions  simi- 


lar to  those  of  Amherst,  and  added  that  nothing 
would  exceed  the  speed  of  the  Americans  in  their 
flight  before  an  enemy.  On  several  occasions 
during  the  Re  vol  m  -ion.  General  Grant  was  com- 
pelled to  run  swiftly  before  the  "  rebels  "  he  af- 
fected so  much  to  despise,  but  never  after  them. 
At  this  he  seems  to  have  been  very  export,  and 

"  Well  skilled  on  runnings  to  decide." 

"  It  is  asserted  that  the  roar  of  a  lion  will  turn 
small  beer  sour.  The  lion  is  the  emblem  of  Great 
Britain's  courage  and  strength,  and  is  the  principal 
figure  on  the  national  escutcheon.  It  was  origi- 
nally a  leopard,  according  to  a  record  of  the  year 
1252. 

^^  Such  declarations  wore  continually  made  by 
North  and  his  cabinet.  They  asserted  the  right 
of  Parliament  to  tax  the  colonies,  and  declared  the 
necessity  of  such  a  tax  for  the  purposes  of  reve- 
nue. 

"  In  the  debate  on  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  in  the 
spring  of  1774,  Mr.  Van,  a  ministerial  member  of 
Parliament,  used  very  violent  language  toward 
the  people  of  Boston.  "  They  ought  to  have  their 
town  knocked  about  their  ears,  and  destroyed," 
he  said,  because  of  their  destruction  of  the  car- 
goes of  tea  in  that  harbor,  a  few  months  before ; 
and  concluded  his  tirade  of  abuse  by  quoting  the 
words  of  Cato  the  Ceiror,  concerning  Carthage, 


♦■ 


224 


Notes. 


(Wli 


Delenda  est  Carthago — Cartliage  must  be   des- 
troyed. 

^^  It  cannot  be  doubted  that  among  tho  measures 
for   crushing   the   rising    rebellion    in    America, 
adopted  by  the  British  ministry  early  in   1774, 
was  that  of  exciting  the  Indians  on  the  frontiers 
of  the  white  settlements  against  their  neighbors. 
In  this  work,  a  little  later,  the  sons  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam   Johnson,   in    the    Mohawk    Valley,   were 
engaged.      Stuart,    in   the    Carolinas,   was   busy 
among  the  Creeks  and  other  frontier  tribes ;  and 
the   Governors   of   some    of  the   provinces    had, 
doubtless,  secret  instructions  on  this  point.     Gov- 
ernor Gage  and  Governor  Dunmore,  of  Virginia, 
were  known   to   be   employed   in   this   nefarious 
business  in  1775.     In  the  autumn  of  that  year. 
Dr.  Connolly,  of  Pittsburg,  visited  General  Gage, 
at  Boston,  and  soon  afterward,  while  on  his  way 
toward  the  Ohio  country,  through   Maryland,  he 
was  arrested  as  a  suspicious  character.     Concealed 
in  his  saddle  were  papers,  which  revealed  the  fact 
that   he  was  commissioned   to   arouse   and   lead 
the  Indians  against  the  people  of  Virginia.     Gov- 
ernor  Carleton,  of  Canada,  was  also  engaged  in 
the  same  business ;  and  the  effect  of  the  agency  of 
secret  emissaries  among  the  savages,  was  seen  as 
the  war  progressed,  in  the  terrible  massacres  every- 
where committed  by  the  Indians,  under  the  pro- 
tecting wing  of  British  power.     The  horrid  prac- 
tice of  employing  the  Indians  was  severely  com- 


m 


Notes. 


27.5 


be   des- 

aeasures 
America, 
n   1774, 
frontiers 
eighbors. 
Sir  Wil- 
3y,   were 
^as   busy 
bes;  and 
ices    bad, 
it.     Gov- 
Virginia, 
nefarious 
;hat  year, 
sral  Gage, 
n  his  way 
yland,  be 
"^oncealed 
d  tbe  fact 
and   lead 
la.     Gov- 
agaged  in 
agency  of 
as  seen  as 
3res  every- 
tbe  pro- 
rrid  prac- 
jrely  com- 


niented  upon  in  the  Britisli  Parliament.  A  mem- 
ber attempted  to  justify  the  measure  by  saying, 
that  they  had  a  right  to  employ  the  means  "  which 
God  and  nature  had  put  into  their  hands."  The 
great  Pitt  scornfully  repeated  these  words,  and 
said,  "  These  abominable  principles,  and  this  most 
abominable  avowal  of  them,  demands  most  deci- 
sive indignation.  I  call  upon  that  right  reverend 
bench  (pointing  to  the  Bishops),  those  holy  minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  and  pious  pastors  of  the  Church, 
I  conjure  them  to  join  in  the  holy  work,  and  to 
vindicate  the  religion  of  their  God."  But  "  those 
holy  ministers"  had  no  word  of  condemnation.  In 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  the  King  was 
charged  with  endeavors  "  to  bring  on  the  inhabi- 
tants of  our  frontiers  the  merciless  Indian  sava- 
ges," and  the  proofs  of  the  truth  of  that  charge 
were  many  and  undeniable. 

^^  Guy  Carleton  (afterward  Lord  Dorchester), 
was  Governor  of  Canada  from  1772  to  1781,  when 
he  succeeded  Sir  Henry  Clinton  as  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  British  army  in  America.  He 
was  made  Governor  of  Quebec,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
New  Brunswick  in  1786.  As  a  reward  for  long 
services  he  was  raised  to  the  peerage.  He  died  in 
1808,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years.  It  is  due  to 
his  memory  to  say,  that  he  doubtless  was  opposed 
to  the  employment  of  the  savages  against  the 
Americans.     He  was  a  very  humane  man,  as  his 

kindness  to  American  prisoners  often  proved. 
0* 


226 


Notes. 


mi 


Guy  Jolinson  was  a  son  of  Sir  William  John- 
son, by  a  sister  of  Brant,  the  great  Mohawk 
Chief  He  had  great  influence  over  the  Iroquois, 
and  in  1775  he,  in  connection  with  the  Butlers  and 
Brant,  held  a  large  council  of  Indians,  composed 
chiefly  of  Cayugas  and  Senecas.  After  the  war 
he  was  an  Indian  agent  in  Canada. 

^^  Guy,  Earl  of  Warwick,  was  called  the  King- 
maker. He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bar  net  in 
April,  1471.  He  is  very  celebrated  in  the  martial 
annals  of  Great  Britain. 

^^  The  Dun  cow  is  celebrated  in  tradition  as  a 
fierce  animal  that  roamed  over  a  heath,  and  had 
killed  many  people.  She  was  twelve  feet  in  height 
from  hoof  to  shoulder,  and  eighteen  feet  in  length 
from  the  neck  to  the  root  of  the  tail.  The  young 
and  fiery  Guy  undertook  to  kill  the  beast,  in  order 
to  win  a  mistress.  He  did  so,  and  the  heath  still 
bears  the  name  of  Dunsmore.  This  is  supposed 
to  be  a  myth,  and  that  the  cow  was  a  Countess, 
who  led  a  disreputable  life,  and  ruined  many  young 
lords  by  winning  their  estates  from  them  at  card- 
playing.  Guy  beat  her  at  the  game,  and  so  the 
destroyer  was  conquered. 

^*  Among  the  threats  of  royal  Governors  in  the 
slave-holding  provinces,  was  that  of  giving  these 
bond-servants  their  freedom,  and  letting  them 
loose,  like  bloodhounds,  upon  their  masters.  And 
this  was  no  idle  threat.  Nothing  but  the  general 
attachment  of  the  slaves  to  their  masters  preveuted 


Notes. 


227 


the  perpetration  of  the  most  frightful  massacres. 
When,  in  June,  1775,  Lord  Dunmore,  the  Governor 
of  Virginia,  fled  for  safety  to  a  British  man-of-war, 
his  first  vindictive  and  retaliatory  efforts  were  to  call 
the  slaves  to  his  standard,  under  a  promise  of  free- 
dom. Many  obeyed  the  call,  and  were  in  the  bat- 
tle at  the  Great  Bridge,  twelve  miles  from  Nor- 
folk, in  December  following.  Hundreds  of  them 
afterwards  miserably  perished.  The  same  thing 
was  attempted,  by  authority,  in  the  Carolinas ;  and 
in  Boston  a  company  of  negroes  was  formed  and 
regularly  enrolled.  Yet  the  negroes  were  not  all 
"  loyal,"  for  we  find  that,  on  one  occasion,  when 
they  had  been  ordered  to  assemble  in  Faneuil  Hall, 
to  choose  from  among  their  number  proper  per- 
sons to  clean  the  streets,  Caesar  Merrian,  in  the 
presence  of  Joshua  Levering,  moderator,  dared  to 
oppose  the  measure,  for  which  he  "  was  committed 
to  prison,  and  confined  until  the  streets  were  all 
cleaned."  The  Declaration  of  Independence  says, 
"  He  has  excited  domestic  insurrection  among  us," 
and  these  facts  are  the  proofs. 

^^  This  was  a  specimen  of  M'Fingal's  "  second 
sight,"  for  there  was,  as  yet,  no  Bishop  in  America. 

"^^  The  negroes  who  enlisted  in  the  army  in  Bos- 
ton were  chiefly  slaves  of  the  whigs  who  had  left 
the  town.  They  were  dressed  in  the  scarlet  uni- 
form of  the  British  army,  a  color  particularly 
adapted  t6  win  the  black  man,  who  is  fond  of  show. 


228 


Notes. 


;;?!: 


1 1  r 


■•I ' '  i 


'fx    • 


«'  "  The  Mtones  and  all  the  elements  with  thee 
Hhall  ratify  a  strict  confed'racy  ; 
Wild  boasts  their  savage  temper  shall  forgot, 
And  for  a  firm  alliance  with  thee  treat." 

Blackmore's  Paraphrase  of  Job, 

'*  These  wore  the  materials  employed  against 
the  Americans  by  the  British  ministry  previous  to 
the  sending  over  German  troops,  mentioned  in 
Note  16,  Canto  I. 

'*  When  Gage  proceeded  to  Boston  to  enforce 
the  Bort  Bill,  he  ordered  two  additional  regiments 
to  moToh  there.  They  entered  Boston  with  great 
display,  and  encamped  on  the  Common,  or  Mall. 
Other  troops  soon  joined  them,  and  as  the  people 
refused  to  give  them  shelter,  they  all  remained  en- 
camped on  the  Common  during  the  summer  of 
1774.  The  contending  political  parties  wrote  and 
published  much.  Massachusettensis  (See  Note 
75,  Couto  I.)  began  his  essays,  and  John  Adams 
soon  answered  them.  Gage  sent  oi  t  proclamation 
after  proclamation,  and  the  patriots  met  him  with 
"  scjuib  for  squib"  at  every  turn.  His  proclama- 
tions were  very  bombastic,  and  were  much  ridi- 
culed. Thoy  were  sometimes  paraphrased  in 
rhyme.  The  following  is  a  specimen  of  one  of 
these : 

"  Tom  Gage's  proclamation, 
Or  blustering  denunciation, 
(Replete  with  defamation,) 
Threatening  devastation 


„! 


Notes. 


229 


And  speedy  jiigulation, 

Of  the  New  English  nation, 

Who  shall  his  pious  ways-shun." 

This  was  the  commencement.  Then  followed  a 
paraphrase,  and  the  whole  ended  with, 

"  Thus  graciously  the  war  I  wage, 
As  witnesseth  my  hand, 

Tom  Gage 
By  command  of  Mother  Carey ^ 

Thomas  Flucker,  Secretary. 

Fliicker  was  the  Seci .  tary  of  Massachusetts  un- 
der Gage.  He  was  the  father  of  Lucy,  the  wife 
of  General  Henry  Knox,  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  artillery  of  the  Continental  army. 

^°  Gage's  fears  made  him  more  of  a  tyrant  than 
he  wished  to  he.  Alarmed  by  hostile  demonstra- 
tions on  all  sides,  he  first  stationed  a  strong  guard 
upon  Boston  Neck,  which  connected  the  peninsula 
with  the  main,  at  Roxbury,  with  the  avowed  shal- 
low pretence  that  he  wished  to  prevent  desertions 
from  his  ranks.  He  next  commenced  erecting  a 
line  of  fortifications  across  the  Neck.  Boston 
carpenters  could  not  be  hired  to  do  the  work,  and 
mechanics  from  New  York  were  employed  for  the 
purpose.  These  things  greatly  irritated  the  peo- 
ple, because  they  were  proofs  of  the  manifest  inten- 
tion of  Government  to  coerce  them  into  submission 
to  unjust  laws. 

3»  Matthew,  xvii.  27. 

*^  Numbers,  Chapter  xii. 


m-^H 


m 


■I  I 


3  ■  \  >'^ 


230 


Notes. 


^'  When  Rome  was  invested  by  the  Gauls,  al- 
most four  hundred  3'ears  before  the  birth  of  Christ, 
a  noble  band  of  citizens  and  soldiers  shut  them- 
eelves  up  in  the  Capitol.  One  night  the  Gauls 
climbed  up  the  steep  rocks  of  the  Capitoline  Hill, 
and  were  about  to  kill  the  sentinels  and  capture 
the  garrison,  when  some  geese,  being  awakened  by 
the  noise,  onckled  so  loudly  that  they  aroused  the 
soldiers  in  time  to  save  the  Capitol,  and  perhaps 
the  Roman  Empire. 

^  See  an  account  of  Rishop  Atterbury's  trial, 
in  the  Histories  of  England.  Francis  Atterbury 
was  Rishop  of  Rochester  and  Dean  of  Westminster. 
He  favored  the  Stuarts,  and  being  su  pected  of 
being  in  league  with  the  old  Pretender,  son  of 
James  the  Second,  he  was  sent  to  the  Tower  on  a 
charge  of  treason,  in  1722.  Ho  was  banished  the 
following  year,  and  died  at  Paris  in  1732. 
^^  Exodus,  Chapter  viii. 

**  A  noodle  meant  simpleton.  This  term  was 
much  in  use  formerly. 

^^  The  exact  origin  of  Yankee  Doodle,  our  na- 
tional air,  is  not  positively  known.  There  was  a 
popular  song  adapted  to  the  old  air  of  Nancy  Daw- 
son, composed  and  sung  in  derision  of  Cromwell, 
by  the  Cavaliers  and  other  loyalists,  which  com- 
menced thus : 

"  Nankey  Doodle  came  to  town, 

Riding  on  a  pony,  ^ 

With  a  feather  in  his  hat 
CJpon  a  macaroni." 


rauls,  al- 
if  Christ, 
it  them- 
?.e  Gaul3 
ine  Hill, 

capture 
kened  by 
)used  the 

perhaps 

y's  trial, 
.tterbury 
tminster. 
lected  of 
',  son  of 
Iwer  on  a 
[shed  the 


;erm  was 

our  na- 
re  was  a 
cy  Daw- 

omwell, 
ch  com- 


NOTES, 


231 


A  "  doodle  "  is  defined  in  the  old  English  diction- 
aries, as  "  a  sorry,  trifling  fellow,"  and  the  term 
was  thus  applied  to  Cromwell.  A  "  macaroni  " 
was  a  knot  on  the  hat,  on  which  a  feather  was 
fastened.  In  a  satirical  poem  accompanying  a 
caricature  of  William  Pitt,  published  in  1766,  in 
which  he  appears  on  stilts,  the  following  stanza 
occurs : 

"  Stamp  act !  le  diable  I  dat  is  de  job,  sir ; 
Dat  is  in  de  stiltmaii's  nob,  sir, 
To  be  America's  nabob,  sir. 
Doodle,  noodle,  do." 

The  air  of  Yankee  Doodle  was  known  in  New 
England,  long  before  the  Revolution,  as  "  Lydia 
Fisher's  Jig ;  "  and  in  1755,  a  surgeon  in  the 
British  army  at  Albany,  composed  a  song  to  that 
air,  in  derision  of  the  uncouth  appearance  of  the 
New  England  troops  then  assembled  there.  He 
called  it  "  Yankee  Doodle."  The  air  was  popular 
as  martial  music ;  and  we  find  on  record  that 
when,  in  1768,  British  troops  arrived  in  ships  in 
Boston  harbor,  "  the  Yankee  Doodle  tupe  was  the 
capital  piece  in  the  band  of  music  at  Castle  Wil- 
liam." The  change  in  spelling  the  first  word  from 
Yankey  to  Yankee,  did  not  occur  until  after  the 
Revolution.  While  the  army  under  Washington 
was  at  Cambridge,  in  1775,  some  loyal  poet  wrote 
a  long  string  of  doggerel  verse,  in  derision  of  the 
New  England  people,  and  troops,  commencing : 


232 


Notes. 


»  ii 


"Father  and  I  went  down  to  camp, 
Along  with  Captain  Goodwin, 
Thoro  wo  sec  the  men  and  boys 
As  thick  as  hasty-jowc?t?w'." 

Seo  Note  1,  Canto  I. 

"^  The  people  in  Boston,  and  the  army  there, 
after  Gage's  arrival,  held  toward  each  other  the 
most  bitter  animosity,  and  that  was  often  inflamed 
"by  the  wicked  or  injudicious  conduct  of  subordi- 
nate ofiScers.  Among  sinners  of  this  kind,  was 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Nesbitt,  who,  at  the  beginning 
of  1775,  took  great  pains  to  insult  and  injure  the 
Americans.  The  country  people  sometimes  came 
into  town,  to  buy  muskets  for  hunting.  On  one 
occasion  Nesbitt  instructed  a  soldier  to  sell  one  of 
them  an  old  rusty  musket.  The  purchaser  was 
an  inoffensive  man,  who  sold  vegetables,  and  paid 
the  soldier  three  dollars  for  the  gun.  He  was  al- 
most immediately  seized  under  a  false  charge  of 
carrying  arms  for  a  treasonable  purpose,  and 
thrown  into  the  guard-house.  Early  the  next 
morning  punishment  was  adjudged,  and  he  was 
stripped  uaked,  furnished  with  a  covering  of  tar 
and  feathers,  placed  upon  a  cart,  paraded  the 
length  of  the  city  and  back,  and  was  taken  to 
Liberty  Tree.  This  hrave  act  was  performed  by 
about  thirty  grenadiers  of  the  47th  regiment,  with 
fixed  bayonets,  and  twenty  drums  and  fifes  playing 
the  Rogue's  March.  The  procession  was  headed 
by  Nesbitt  with  a  drawn  sword.     The  indignant 


Notes. 


233 


my  there, 

other  the 

inflamed 

subordi- 

:ind,  was 

Deginning 

njure  the 

mes  came 

On  one 

)11  one  of 

aser  was 

and  paid 

e  was  al- 

jharge  of 

ose,   and 

ihe   next 

he  was 

g  of  tar 

idcd   the 

taken  to 

)rmed  by 

ent,  with 

i  playing 

headed 

adignant 


people  flocked  to  Liberty  Tree,  when  the  alarmed 
soldiers  fled  to  their  barracks,  and  the  poor  man 
was  rescued. 

The  origin  of  the  punishment  by  tar  and  feathers, 
has  been  fixed  at  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  by 
most  writers.  According  to  the  Pictorial  History 
of  England,  vol.  i.  page  487,  quoted  in  Duyck- 
inck's  Cyclopedia  of  American  Literature,  the 
"  plumeopicean  robe  "  is  as  old  as  the  crusaders. 
Richard  Coeur  de  Lion  made  the  regulation  that 
*'  A  man  convicted  of  theft  or  '  pickerie,'  was  to 
have  his  head  shaved,  and  hot  pitch  poured  upon  his 
bare  pate,  and  over  the  pitch  the  feathers  of  some 
pillow  or  cushion  were  to  be  shaken,  as  a  mark 
whereby  he  might  be  known  as  a  thief" 

^^  Caligula  was  the  most  detested  of  the  Roman 
Emperors,  because  of  his  ferocious  and  dissipated 
character.  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  16,  he  led 
an  army  to  the  shores  of  Gaul,  for  the  purpose  of 
invading  Britain,  but  he  did  not  embark.  He 
there  ordered  a  charge  to  be  sounded,  and  a  signal 
to  be  made  for  engaging  an  enemy.  But  no  enemy 
of  course,  appeared.  His  soldiers  were  then  di- 
rected to  gather  cockle-shells,  to  be  sent  to  Rome 
as  "  spoils  of  the  ocean,"  and  these  adorned  the 
ridiculous  triumph  which  a  corrupt  senate  decreed 
for  him. 

^°  After  a  siege  of  ten  years,  ancient  Troy  was 
taken  by  the  Greeks,  through  strategy.  Finding 
they  could  not  gain  a  forcible  entrance  into  the 


T"^ 


!l« 


J 


N !  i  I 


ll  .1 


M     i\ 


234 


Notes. 


city,  they  constructed  an  enormous  wooden  horse, 
introduced  many  armed  men  into  its  body,  and 
then  made  a  pretended  retreat  toward  the  sea- 
shore, leaving  the  colossal  beast  near  the  walls. 
Sinon,  one  of  the  Greek  warriors,  went  to  Troy 
with  his  hands  bound  behind  him,  and  solemnly 
assured  the  Trojans  of  the  absolute  abandonment 
of  the  siege  by  the  Greeks.  He  then  advised 
them  to  convey  the  great  horse  into  the  city,  as  a 
trophy.  It  was  done,  and  during  that  night, 
Sinon  opened  the  secret  door  in  the  side  of  the 
horse,  and  let  out  the  armed  Greeks.  They  sur- 
prised the  Trojans,  pillaged  the  city,  and  Troy 
fell  I 

*'  Colonel  Leslie  was  one  of  the  most  useful  of 
the  British  officers  who  came  to  America  to  "  crush 
the  rebellion."  He  arose  to  the  rank  of  brigadier, 
whilst  here,  and  was  the  last  commander-in-chief 
of  the  British  army  at  Charleston.  His  services 
at  the  south,  under  Comwallis,  were  very  highly 
commended,  and  he  was  generally  esteemed  by 
the  Americans  as  a  judicious,  honorable,  and  hu- 
mane commander. 

*^  Marblehead  was  originally  a  part  of  Salem, 
and  is  about  sixteen  miles  from  Boston.  It  was 
remarkable  for  its  fishermen  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution.  Colonel  Glover  of  the  Continental 
Army,  was  from  that  town,  and  he  employed 
many  seamen  from  that  place  in  conveying  the 
Americans  across  the  East  river  in  the  retreat  of 


Notes. 


235 


the  army  from  Brooklyn  to  New  York  in  Septem- 
ber, 1776.  They  also  transported  American  stores 
in  boats,  from  New  York  to  Dobbs'  Ferry. 

*^  See  Homer's  description  of  the  battle  of  the 
frogs  and  mice. 

**  On  Sunday,  the  2Gth  of  February,  1775, 
Colonel  Leslie,  with  about  three  hundred  men, 
was  sent  by  Gage  to  seize  some  brass  cannons  and 
gun-carriages  in  possession  of  the  Americans  at 
Salem.  They  proceeded  very  secretly  in  a  trans- 
port, which  was  moored  at  Marblehead  before  any 
of  the  soldiers  appeared.  They  then  rushed 
ashore,  and  commenced  their  march  through  the 
town.  The  people  were  engaged  in  public  wor- 
ship. Leslie's  intentions  being  suspected,  intelli- 
gence was  immediately  sent  to  Colonel  Timothy 
Pickering,  who  called  out  th^  minute-men,  and  at 
an  opened  drawbridge  near  Salem,  he  confronted  the 
British.  A  parley  ensued,  and  Leslie  agreed  that 
if  the  people  would  close  the  bridge,  and  let  him 
pass  over  in  due  form  of  invasion,  he  would  immedi- 
ately return.  The  terms  of  the  treaty  were  complied 
with,  and  Leslie,  like  a  sensible  man,  returned 
to  Boston.  Had  he  possessed  the  folly  of  some  of 
the  British  officers,  he  would  have  given  to  Salem 
the  honor  which  now  belongs  to  Lexington,  of 
having  been  the  scene  of  the  first  bloodshed  in  the 
•Revolution.  As  it  was,  the  news  went  to  Eng- 
land that  in  Salem  "the  Americans  had  hoisted 
the  standard  of  liberty," 


rim'm 


136 


Notes, 


**  Concord  is  a  few  miles  from  Lexington.  There 
the  stores  were  concealed,  which  Gage  sought  to 
capture  or  destroy,  when  he  sent  out  tlie  detach- 
ment that  was  checked  by  the  minute-men  at  Lex- 
ington. 

""  General  Gage,  in  his  letter  to  Governor  Trum- 
bull concerning  the  affair  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord, pretended  that  his  object  in  attempting  to 
seize  the  stores  and  munitions  of  war  at  the  latter 
place,  was  "  to  prevent  civil  war,"  by  taking  dan- 
gerous weapons  out  of  the  hands  of  the  people  ! 

*^  The  important  question  after  blood  had  flowed 
was.  Which  party  began  the  war  ?  A  great  many 
depositions  were  taken,  and  it  was  fully  proven 
that  the  British  troops  first  fired  on  the  minute- 
men  at  Lexington,  and  killed  several.  The  fire 
was  promptly  returned,  however,  in  self-defence. 
In  reference  to  this  question,  a  writer  in  Ander- 
son's Constitutional  Gazette,  published  in  New 
York  in  1775,  thus  states  the  matter : 


"  The  Quarrel  with  America  fairly  stated. 

Rudely  forced  to  drink  tea,  Massachusetts  in  anger 
Spills  the  tea  on  John  Bull — John  falls  on  to  bang  her  ; 
Massachusetts,  enraged,  calls  her  neighbors  to  aid, 
And  give  Master  John  a  severe  bastinade. 
Now,  good  men  of  the  law  !  pray,  who  is  in  fault, 
The  one  who  began,  or  resents  the  assault  ?  " 


(( 


*®  In  former  wars  in  America,  the  term  Begular 
was  applied  to  the  British  troops  which  came  from 


Notes. 


237 


England,  to  distinguish  tliom  from  the  provincials, 
or  new  levies  in  America. 

''*'  This  refers  to  the  distance  the  British  had  to 
retreat  after  the  affair  at  Lexington. 

'"  In  his  account  of  the  skirmishe-i,  Troncral  Gage 
was  pleased  to  say,  "  Too  much  praise  cannot  bo 
given  to  Lord  Percy  for  his  remarkable  activity 
throughout  the  whole  day." 

"'  This  is  explained  in  Note  3,  Canto  L 

'^  Gage  endeavored  to  make  light  of  the  fact 
that  he  was  so  hemmed  iu  by  the  Americans,  who 
had  gathered  by  thousands  around  Boston ;  and 
in  his  last  proclamation,  issued  before  the  battle 
on  Breed's  Hill,  he  said,  "  With  a  preposterous 
parade  of  military  arrangements,  they  affect  to 
hold  the  army  besieged." 

"  The  Mystic  river  is  on  the  northeast  side  of 
the  Peninsula  of  Charlestown,  on  which  are  Bun- 
ker's and  Breed's  hills. 

"  In  a  late  edition,  the  two  following  lines  were 
added  after  the  third  line  above  this  reference 
number : 

"  Nay,  stern  with  rage,  grins  Putnam,  boiling, 
Plunder'd  botli  Hogg  and  Noddle  Island." 

These  were  two  islands  in  Boston  Harbor,  from 
which  the  Americans  carried  off  all  the  cattle, 
sheep  and  swine,  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  British.  Gage  really  had  no  alter- 
native but  to  flee,  or  be  driven 

"  headlong  to  the  sea." 


i 


238 


Notes. 


''ii 


m^'-  -i 


W-- 


in  .  vAl 


l:t- 


W' '  •    -I 


Howe,  who  succeeded  him  in  command,  was  re- 
duced to  the  same  alternative,  and  in  March,  1776, 
he  fled  in  his  ships  to  Halifax,  and  the  Americans, 
after  a  siege  of  several  months,  took  possessiou  of 
Boston.  The  British  had  been  completely  hemmed 
in  upon  the  Boston  peninsula  from  the  19th  of 
April,  1775,  until  the  17th  of  March,  1776. 
Whenever  they  attempted  to  penetrate  the  country, 
or  take  possession  of  any  of  the  islands  in  the  har- 
bor, they  were  met  with  determined  resistance. 

^^  Matthew  viii.,  32. 

^®  The  British  man-of-war,  Cerberus^  arrived  at 
Boston  on  the  25th  of  May,  1775,  with  Generals 
Howe,  Clinton,  and  Burgoyne,  three  officers  expe- 
rienced in  the  military  tactics  of  Europe,  but  unfit, 
in  many  respects,  to  conduct  the  war  then  just 
commenced.  General  William  Howe  was  com- 
missioned commander-in-chief,  in  place  of  General 
Gage,  who  was  recalled  and  went  to  England  soon 
afterward. 

"  Popular  belief  ascribed  very  evil  effects  to 
comets,  and  they  were  generally  regarded  as  omens 
of  calamity. 

^'^  Abijah  White  was  a  member  of  the  Massachu- 
setts House  of  Representatives,  from  Marshfield, 
and  a  warm  adherent  of  the  crown.  He  possessed 
very  little  judgment  or  discretion,  and  made  him- 
self very  ridiculous  by  the  way  in  which  he  mani- 
fested his  zeal.  When  the  loyalists  of  Marshfield, 
in  public  meeting,  adopted  resolutions  which  cen- 


yi::  V 


Notes. 


239 


,  was  re- 
•ch,  1776, 
mericaiis, 
iessiou  of 
y  liemmed 
3  loth  of 
3h,  1776. 
e  country, 
n  the  har- 
istance. 

arrived  at 
I  Generals 
icers  expe- 
),  but  unfit, 
then  just 
-was  com- 
of  General 
leland  soon 

effects  to 
d  as  omens 

Massachu- 
Marshfield, 
e  possessed 
made  him- 
jh  he  mani- 
Marshfield, 
which  cen- 


sured the  people  of  Boston  for  destroying  the  tea, 
he  was  employed  to  carry  them  to  that  city,  and 
lay  them  before  the  governor.  Pretending  a  fear 
of  being  robbed  of  them  by  the  way,  he  armed 
himself  with  gun,  pistol  and  cutlass,  and,  mounting 
his  horse,  appeared  like  another  Hudibras.  On 
arriving  at  Boston,  he  caused  the  momentous  docu- 
ment to  be  published.  This  act  drew  upon  him 
some  of  the  wrath,  but  more  of  the  ridicule  of  the 
whigs,  and  he  disappeared  from  public  life  forever. 

^^  It  is  related  as  a  fact,  that  some  British  offi- 
cers, soon  after  Gage's  arrival  in  Boston,  while 
walking  on  Beacon  hill  one  night,  were  much 
alarmed  by  noises  in  the  air  resembling  the  whiz- 
zing of  bullets.  They  supposed  they  were  missiles 
from  noiseless  air-guns,  in  the  hands  of  the 
"  rebels,"  and  they  fled  precipitately  to  their  quar- 
ters. They  gave  terrible  accounts  of  this  "  nefa- 
rious business  "  in  their  letters  to  friends  at  home. 
The  supposed  bullets  were  the  common  beetles^ 
with  which  we  are  all  made  familiar  in  the  warm 
summer  e .  mings. 

^^  British  officials,  from  ministers  of  state  down 
to  subalterns  of  lowest  grade,  were  fond  of  threat- 
ening the  Whigs  with  the  pillory,  whipping-post 
and  gibbet.  During  the  war,  a  son  of  Richard 
Henry  Lee,  of  Virginia,  was  at  school  at  St.  Bees, 
in  England.  A  gentleman  one  day  asked  the 
tutor,  "  What  boy  is  this  ?  "  "A  son  of  Richard 
Henry  Lee,  of  America,"  he  replied.     The  gentle- 


m^ 


■5r     triflMiif  nn  i 


'  il;  • 


!     :l 


lV~   .' 


1       ■!! 


%   i 


I.  i 


I  \     ii 


il^ii; 


240 


n  O  TES. 


man  put  his  hand  on  the  boy's  head  and  remarked, 
"  We  shall  yet  see  your  father's  head  upon  Tower 
Hill."  The  boy  promptly  replied,  "  You  may 
have  it  when  you  can  get  it."  That  boy  was  the 
late  Ludwell  Lee,  Esq.,  of  Virginia. 

"  Called  also  "  Heave-offering."  Grain  and 
fruit  were  waved  or  heaved  toward  the  four  cardi- 
nal points.  It  was  a  special  present  to  the  priests. 
See  Numbers,  chapter  xviii. 

'^^  Cropping  off  portions  of  the  ears,  tying  men 
to  posts  and  whipping  them,  and  confining  them  in 
a  standing  position  in  wooden  frames  called  pillo- 
ries, were  barbarous  modes  of  punishment,  for  light 
offences,  at  that  time. 

®^  Bunyan,  in  his  Pilgrim's  Progress^  represents 
Christian  as  setting  forth  upon  his  journey  with  a 
very  heavy  bundle  of  all  his  sins,  original  and  ac- 
tual, upon  his  back. 

''  See  Note  38,  Canto  II.  The  uniform  alluded 
to  was  that  of  tar  and  feathers.  The  want  of 
uniform  dress  in  the  American  Army  was  a  con- 
stant theme  of  ridicule  with  the  British  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  war.  Mr.  Kidder,  in  his  history 
of  New  Ipswich,  gives,  from  the  lips  of  an  old 
soldier,  a  graphic  description  of  his  company  when 
it  joined  the  army  of  Grates  a  little  while  before  the 
capture  of  Burgoyne.  They  all  wore  small  clothes, 
and  "  not  a  pair  of  boots  graced  the  company." 
Their  coats  and  waistcoats  were  as  various  in 
colors  "  as  the  barks  of  oak,  sumach,  and  other 


Notes. 


241 


emarkcd, 
m  Tower 
You  may 
y  was  the 

rraiu  and 
•our  cardi- 
bie  priests. 

tying  men 
Qg  them  in 
ailed  pillo- 
it,  for  light 

,  represents 
•ney  with  a 
lal  and  ac- 

rm  alluded 
}  want  of 
was  a  con- 
at  the  be- 
liis  history 
of  an  old 
ipany  when 
Q  before  the 
lall  clothes, 
company." 
various  in 
and  other 


trees  of  our  hills  and  swamps  could  make  them." 
Their  arms  were  as  various  as  their  costume ;  one 
had  a  heavy  ''  Queen  Anne"  musket,  that  had 
*  done  service"  in  the  conquest  of  Canada,  and  by 
his  side  would  be  a  boy,  carrying  a  little  Spanish 
fuzee,  captured,  perhaps,  at  Havana.  They  all 
used  powder-horns  instead  of  cartridge-boxes,  and 
occasionally  a  bayonet  might  be  seen.  A  country 
blacksmith  made  the  swords  of  many  of  the  offi- 
cers, and  in  every  particular  they  were  as  uncouth 
as  could  well  be  imagined. 

*^^  The  ships  that  *'  ravaged  our  coasts  "  were  not 
so  benign  as  those  of  whom  Waller  sung  : 

"Wb;        .  our  navy  spreads  her  canvass  wings, 
Honoi  to  thee  and  peace  to  all  she  brings." 

*®  Phoebus  was  another  name  for  Apollo,  or  the 
Sun. 

*'  While  the  British  occupied  Boston,  they  sent 
out  military  detachments  to  the  neighboring  islands 
to  seize  sheep  and  cattle.  Many  skirmishes  with  the 
Americans  ensued  on  these  occasions.  And  while 
the  army  occupied  New  York,  these  expeditions 
were  very  common,  and  sometimes  resulted  in  con- 
siderable bloodshed.  The  Americans,  also,  had 
frequent  occasions  to  send  out  foraging  parties  dur- 
ing the  war.  It  was  one  of  these  occasions  in 
which  General  Wayne  was  concerned,  in  New  Jer- 
sey, opposite  New  York,  that  gave  a  theme  to  Ma- 
jor Andre  when  he  wrote  the  famous  poem  called 
11 


i 


1 

ft 


242 


Notes. 


s?,  '■ 


l>    \ 


1        :! 


'       'I     i 


hill 


"  The  Cow  Chase."  It  was  during  a  foraging  ex- 
pedition of  tlio  British  from  Charleston,  up  the 
Oombahee  river,  in  South  Carolina,  that  the  last 
battle  of  the  Revolution  was  fought,  in  which  Col. 
John  Laurens  was  killed. 

"*  Charlestown  was  burned  during  the  battle  on 
Breed's  Hill,  June  17th,  1775.  Falmouth  (now 
Portland,  in  Maine)  was  soon  afterward  destroyed 
by  fire ;  and  on  the  first  of  January,  1776,  Nor- 
folk, in  Virginia,  was  also  consumed,  by  order  of 
Lord  Dunmore.  Later  in  the  war,  Danbury,  Fair- 
field, and  Norwalk  were  laid  in  ashes,  and  attempts 
were  made  to  destroy  other  places.  At  Fairfield, 
the  brutal  Hessians,  to  whom  Tryon  gave  full  lib- 
erty to  ravage  and  destroy,  excited  by  strong  drink, 
cruelly  treated  the  women  who  fell  into  their 
hands,  and  whole  families  were  driven  into  the 
swamps  for  shelter  against  their  infernal  lusts. 
Elsewhere,  at  the  North  and  at  the  South,  this 
kind  of  cruel  warfare  was  frequently  carried  on 
by  British  hirelings,  assisted  by  the  Tories,  who 
were  justly  more  hated  by  the  people  than  the 
Boyal  troops,  or  their  German  fellow  mercenaries. 

®*  Admiral  Graves  first  appears  in  the  drama  of 
the  Revolution,  as  Commander  of  the  British  fleet 
at  Boston,  in  1775.  He  last  appeared  in  the  con- 
test in  a  sea-fight  ofif  the  Capes  of  Virginia,  a 
short  time  before  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  in 
1781,  which  was  the  concluding  great  military 
event  of  the  war. 


n|M<!  ^I'i 


Notes. 


243 


70 


:i 


Sir  James  Wallace,  a  fussy,  blustering,  naval 
commander,  had  charge  of  a  little  fleet  of  small 
vessels,  in  Narraganset  Bay,  to  watch  the  move- 
ments of  the  Americans,  plunder  Khode  Island 
of  sheep  and  cattle  for  the  benefit  of  the  British 
army  in  Boston,  and  to  annoy  the  Americans  gen- 
erally. And  he  did  annoy  the  people  very  much, 
and  sometimes  distressed  them  very  much.  When 
he  first  sailed  into  the  harbor  of  Newport,  he 
dispatched  a  letter,  in  the  following  words,  to  Cap- 
tain Abraham  Whipple,  of  Providence,  who,  in 
1772,  commanded  an  expedition  which  burned  the 
Gaspe  schooner,  in  Narraganset  Bay  : 

"  You,  Abraham  Whipple,  on  the  17th  of  June, 
1772,  burned  His  Majesty's  vessel,  the  Gaspe,  and 
I  will  hang  you  at  the  yard-arm. 

James  Wallace." 

Whipple  immediately  replied : 
"  To  Sir  James  Wallace: 

Sir  :  Always  catch  a  man  before  you  hang  him. 

Abraham  Whipple." 

Wallace  was  driven  out  of  Narraganset  Bay  in 
the  spring  of  1776,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1777,  he 
went  up  the  Hudson  river  and  assisted  in  burning 
Kingston. 

'^  The  Sandemauians  were  a  small  religious  sect, 
so  named  because  Robert  Sandeman,  a  native  of 
Perth,  Scotland,  was  the  founder.  Their  leading 
tenet  of  belief  was  that  ^*  Faith  is  a  mere  intellec- 
tual belief,  a  bare  belief  of  the  bare  truth."    They 


244 


Notes. 


also  believed  the  Millennium  near,  and  fixed  upon 
the  year  1793  as  the  time  for  its  dawning.  San- 
deman  came  to  America  in  1764,  and  organized  a 
church  or  society  in  Boston,  and  also  in  Daubury, 
Connecticut.  He  died  and  was  buried  at  the  lat- 
ter place,  in  1771,  at  the  age  of  53  years.  His 
remains  rest  a  few  feet  from  those  of  General  Da- 
vid Wooster. 

'■^  The  unjust  system  of  depriving  whole  fami- 
lies of  property  because  of  the  political  sins  of 
the  fathers,  was  commenced  against  the  adherents 
of  the  Crown,  first  in  Massachusetts  in  1778,  when 
a  vast  amount  of  property  belonging  to  refugees 
who  had  fled,  and  some  who  ventured  to  remain, 
was  confiscated.  In  1779  the  Massachusetts  Le- 
gislature passed  a  conspiracy  act,  which  sent  into 
perpetual  banishment  a  large  portion  of  the  same 
persons. 

'"^  The  Tory  party  in  New  England  worked  upon 
the  fears  of  the  credulous  and  superstitious,  by  re- 
lating wonderful  stories  of  strange  appearances  in 
the  heavens,  and  strange  noises  in  the  air  and  un- 
der ground,  and  called  them  warnings  of  great 
troubles,  if  the  Whigs  persisted  in  their  iniqui- 
tous proceedings.  A  remarkable  meteor  and 
Aurora  Borealis  were  observed  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  and  the  superstitious  were  greatly 
alarmed. 

'*  "  The  stars  in  their  courses  fought  against 
Sisera."  Song  of  Deborah,  Judges  v.  20. 


Notes. 


245 


;d  upon 
:  San- 
inizcd  a 
'anbury, 

the  lat- 
•s.  His 
eral  Ba- 
de fanii- 
.  sins  of 
,dherents 
78,  when 

refugees 
3  remain, 
isetts  Le- 

sent  into 

the  same 

led  upon 
lus,  by  re- 
irances  in 
r  and  un- 
of  great 
ir  iniqui- 
teor    and 
ommence- 
re  greatly 

it  against 
s  V.  20. 


"  A  play  upon  the  name  of  Lord  North,  the 
Prime  Minister. 

'**  Referring  to  a  scheme  proposed  by  Hutchin- 
son and  Oliver,  in  their  letters  to  the  British  Min- 
istry. See  Note  98,  Canto  I.  When  the  Caro- 
linas  were  first  settled,  Shaftsbury  and  Locke  pro- 
posed a  magnificent  scheme  of  aristocratic  govern- 
ment in  that  portion  of  the  New  World,  known 
as  the  Fundamental  Constitutions.  It  contem- 
plated orders  of  nobility,  and  all  the  parapherna- 
lia of  aristocracy  except  a  King  and  Court.  Even 
at  that  early  day  the  people  would  not  listen  to 
such  schemes,  and  they  were  abandoned. 

"  We  have  already  noticed  Hutchinson  and 
Oliver.  John  Vassal,  of  Cambridge,  was  an  Ad- 
dresser of  Hutchinson,  in  1774,  and  the  next 
year  he  was  driven  from  his  house  by  a  mob,  and 
made  his  abode  in  Boston.  Without  waiting  for 
Confiscation  Laws,  the  Committee  of  Safety  ap- 
propriated some  of  his  property  to  the  public  use. 
Such  appropriation  consisted  chiefly  of  the  pro- 
ducts of  the  land,  then  in  the  fields.  When  Wash- 
ington arrived  at  Cambridge,  he  made  Mr.  Vas- 
sal's house  his  head-quarters.  It  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  Professor  Longfellow,  the  eminent  poet. 
Mr.  Vassal  went  to  England,  with  his  family.  His 
property  was  confiscated  in  1778.  At  the  age  of 
sixty  years,  he  died  in  England.  The  Vassals 
were  among  the  earliest  and  most  respectable  of 
the  settlers  in  New  England. 


-|! 


't!.,, 


246 


Notes. 


'®  Those  wore  tho  titles  of  James,  the  brother  of 
Charles  tho  Second,  who  afterward  became  King 
of  England.  The  province  of  New  Netherland 
was  given  to  him  by  his  brother,  and  when,  by 
actual  conquest,  he  came  into  possession  of  it,  the 
name  of  the  city  of  New  Amsterdam  was  changed 
to  New  York,  and  that  of  the  town  of  Fort  Orange, 
near  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Hudson  river, 
to  Albany. 

"  James  Jauncy  was  at  first  inclined  to  be  a 
whig,  and  was  an  associate  with  Jay  and  others 
on  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of  Fifty. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly  in 
1775,  and  was  one  of  the  fourteen  of  that  body 
who  addressed  General  Gage  on  "the  unhappy 
contest."  Ho  held  the  office  of  Master  of  the  Rolls 
under  the  Crown;  and  his  property  was  confis- 
cated. After  the  war,  he  applied  to  the  legisla- 
ture of  Now  York  for  a  restoration  of  his  pro- 
perty. 

^°  Samuel  Gales  was  also  one  of  the  fourteen 
Addressers  of  Gage,  who  were  members  of  the 
New  York  Assembly  in  1775. 

^^  Colonel  Cliristopher  Billop  was  a  man  of  pro- 
perty and  influence.  His  house  is  yet  (1857) 
standing  on  Staten  Island,  opposite  Perth  Amboy. 
It  was  there  that  Lord  Howe  held  a  conference 
with  a  committee  of  Congress  on  the  subject  of 
peace,  in  1776.  Colonel  Billop  was  another  mem- 
ber of  tho  New   York  Assembly,  who  addressed 


Notes. 


247 


General  Gage.  He  afterward  commanded  a  corps 
of  Loyalists,  was  made  a  prisoner,  and  was  con- 
fined in  New  Brunswick  (New  Jersey)  jail,  where 
he  was  very  harshly  treated  in  retaliation  of  his 
cruelties  to  two  American  prisoners  in  his  custody. 
After  the  war  he  went  to  the  province  of  New 
Brunswick,  where  he  became  a  prominent  man. 
He  died  there  in  1827,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years. 

®*  See  notice  of  Crean  Brush,  in  Note  70,  Canto  I. 

''  See  notice  of  Isaac  Wilkins,  D.  D.  Note  72, 
Canto  I. 

^-  Frederick  Phillipse,  of  the  Phillipse  Manor,  in 
Westchester  County,  New  York,  is  here  alluded 
to.  He  was  the  brother  of  Mary  Phillipse,  whose 
hand  was  once  sought  by  George  Washington, 
when  he  was  a  provincial  Colonel.  Phillipse  was 
a  member  of  the  New  York  Assembly,  and  a  colo- 
nel of  militia;  and  finally,  on  account  of  his  op- 
position to  the  whigs,  he  felt  compelled  to  leave 
his  home  and  take  refuge  under  British  protection 
in  New  York.  From  thence  he  went  to  England. 
His  large  property  was  confiscated,  and  the  British 
Government  afterwards  allowed  him,  in  compen- 
sation, about  three  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
Colonel  Phillipse  died  in  England. 

®'  This  was  Dr.  Myles  Cooper,  already  referred 
to  in  Note  59,  Canto  I.    He  was  a  noted  punster. 

®*  John  Vardell  was  educated  at  King's  (now  Co- 
lumbia) College.  He  there  prepared  for  the  minis- 
try, and  became  a  professor  in  that  institution  for 


248 


Notes. 


L'  I 


^  Ml 


a  while.  He  went  to  England  in  1774,  to  re- 
ceive orders ;  and  after  the  death  of  Dr.  Ogilvie, 
be  was  appointed  to  the  rectorship  of  Trinity 
Church,  in  New  York.  He  did  not  accept  it, 
being,  as  is  supposed,  in  the  employment  of  Govern- 
ment. Before  ho  left  for  England,  he  had  written 
several  poetical  satires  on  the  Sons  of  Liberty, 
and  was  quite  noted  as  a  political  writer  in  prose 
and  verse. 

^'  Two  High  Church  clergymen  of  New  York, 
already  noticed. 

^*  In  note  9,  Canto  II,  we  have  referred  to  the 
materials  of  which  the  old  peerage  of  England  was 
created.  Adam  was  "  created  "  of  the  dust  of  the 
ground.  So  the  English  technical  phrase  of 
"  creating  "  a  peer  seems  to  be  very  appropriate, 
when  we  turn  back  to  that  old  peerage,  for  surely 
it  was  of  "  low  degree." 

®®  See  Note  47,  Canto  II,  concerning  the  re- 
sponsibility of  striking  the  first  blow. 

'°  These  are  the  Alleghany  Mountai  s,  which 
extend  from  the  State  of  New  York  t(  that  of 
Georgia.  They  were  then  on  the  western  frontier 
of  the  English  settlements  in  America. 

^^  The  province  of  Georgia  had  not  joined  the 
union  when  the  first  Canto  (of  which  this  is  a 
part)  of  McFingal  was  written.  Georgia  was  rep- 
resented in  the  next  Congress,  however. 

'•'  See  Note  29,  Canto  II. 

*^  Demosthenes  pursued  a  course  of  very  severe 


Ih.'ff    f! 


Notes. 


249 


self  training,  so  as  to  excel  in  oratory.  In  order 
to  acquire  for  his  voice  a  mastery  over  greater 
sounds,  he  used  to  stand  upon  the  sea-shore,  in 
storms,  and  dech'iim  amidst  the  roar  of  the  waves. 
By  this  means  he  was  enabled  to  make  his  words 
heard  and  heeded  in  the  tumult  of  a  great  as- 
sembly. 

''  See  Note  25,  Canto  I. 

^^  At  that  time,  and  until  a  quite  recent  period, 
the  pulpits  in  this  country  were  covered  by  a 
canopy  called  a  "  sounding  board,"  to  assist  in 
making  the  preacher's  voice  heard  by  the  whole 
congregation.  Drawings  of  such  pulpits  may  bo 
seen  in  Lossing's  Pictorial  Field-Book  of  the 
Hevoluiion,  vol.  i.  p.  254,  and  vol.  ii.  p.  215. 

®®  The  Parcse  or  Fates  of  ancient  mythology 
were  Glotho  the  spinster,  who  spins  the  thread  of 
our  existence ;  Lachesis,  the  allotter  of  our  des- 
tmies ;  and  Atropos,  the  unchangeable,  whose 
shears  clip  the  thread  when  life's  mission  is  ful- 
filled. 

"'  The  Furiae  of  mythology  were  Aledo,  the  un- 
ceasing ;  MegcBray  the  envier  or  denier ;  and  Ti- 
siphone,  the  blood-avenger. 

»«  See  ^sop's  Fables. 

'*  Genesis,  Chapter  xi. 

*°°  On  some  day  in  the  week  previous  to  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Sup- 
per in  the  New  England  Churches,  a  sermon  was 

preached  which  was   called   a  lecture,  and  that 
11* 


250 


Notes. 


day  was  known  as  lecture-day.  These  lectures 
were  generally  very  thinly  attended ;  a  fact  here 
alluded  to  by  the  poet. 


CANTO  III. 


fill 


*  See  Note  103,  Canto  I. 

'  See  OuUiver^s  Travels^  by  Dean  Swift.  The 
"Brobdignagians  are  represented  as  a  race  of 
giants. 

3  "  His  spear,  to  equal  which  the  tallest  pine 
Hewn  on  Norwegian  hills,  to  be  the  mast 
Of  some  great  Admiral,  were  but  a  wand." 

Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Book  I. 

*  At  an  early  period  of  the  contest,  after  the 
close  of  the  session  of  the  first  Continental  Con- 
gress in  the  autumn  of  1774,  the  Americans  used 
a  flag  with  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and 
white,  to  signify  union.  The  stars  on  a  blue 
ground  were  not  used  until  late  in  1777.  Congress 
adopted  the  following  resolution  on  the  14th  of 
June  of  that  year :  "  That  the  flag  of  the  thirteen 
United  States  be  thirteen  stripes,  alternate  red  and 
white;  that  the  Union  be  thirteen  stars,  white, 
in  a  blue  field,  representing  a  new  constellation." 
This  Canto  was  written  at  the  close  of  the  con- 
test. 


! 


; 


Notes  . 


251 


'A  mixed  liquor,  consisting  of  boor  and  spirits, 
sweetened,  and  warmed  by  tlirusting  a  hot  iron 
into  it. 

*  A  female,  celebrated  by  the  ancient  poots  as 
skilled  in  magic,  arts  and  a  knowledge  of  subtle 
poisons.  She  inhabited  an  Island,  and  all  those  who 
approached  her  were  first  feasted,  and  then,  on 


tasting  the  contents    of   her 


magic 


cup,   wcro 


changed  into  swine.  She  may  properly  be  re 
garded  as  the  representation  of  Alcohol,  or  of 
sensual  indulgence  in  general. 

'  Nectar,  in  mythology  and  poetry,  was  the 
beverage  used  by  the  Gods. 

^  At  that  time  fire  engines  were  not  introduced 
into  this  country.  Leather  buckets  were  kept  in 
almost  every  house,  and  especially  by  the  members 
of  fire  companies,  to  be  used  for  the  purpose  of 
extinguishing  fires.  One  set  of  men  were  ap- 
pointed to  use  instruments  for  breaking  into  or 
pulling  down  buildings,  and  others,  called  "  bucket 
men,"  supplied  water. 

®  From  time  immemorial  high  poles,  called  May- 
poles, hsive  been  raised  in  England  on  the  first  ]  y 
of  May,  and  profusely  garlanded  with  leaves  and 
flowers  in  honor  of  the  day,  the  ushering  ii)  of  the 
summer  wealth  of  the  land.  May  pjios  were 
places  for  joyful  gatherings  of  the  young,  and 
doubtless  suggested  liberty-poles  as  the  rallying 
points  for  public  meetings.    See  Note  103,  Canto  I. 

^°  Genesis,  Chapter  xi. 


252 


Notes. 


S  :^  1! 


l!'\     % 


f  I 


^ 


J! 


I        i 


"  Alluding  to  the  electric  conductors,  or  light- 
ning rods,  of  Dr.  Franklin,  then  becoming  quite 
common  in  America  and  Europe. 

'2  See  Note  7,  Canto  I. 

'^  Numbers,  Chapter  xxi.  v.  9. 

'*  The  great  Charter  of  England,  obtained  by 
the  English  Barons,  of  JCiug  John,  at  Runny- 
mede,  in  the  year  1215.  In  other  words,  a  funda- 
mental co7isUtution,  which  guaranties  rights  and 
privileges. 

'^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  depreciation  of  the 
Continental  paper  money.  Congress  ascertained 
the  cause  of  its  declension  at  different  periods,  by 
what  was  called  a  Scale  of  Depreciation. 

^®  A  grand  national  festival  of  the  Jews,  held 
every  fiftieth  year,  when  all  debts  were  cancelled, 
all  prisoners  and  slaves  were  liberated,  and  when 
all  lands  and  estates,  whether  they  had  been  sold 
or  mortgaged,  were  restored  to  the  original  propri- 
etor. It  was  ushered  in  with  trumpets  and  the 
most  vehement  demonstrations  of  joy. 

"  The  courts  of  justice  were  everywhere  closed 
at  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  those  Judges 
who  had  been  appointed  by  the  Crown,  and  per- 
sisted in  holding  their  seats,  were  driven  from  the 
court-rooms  by  the  people,  who  assembled  in  mul- 
titudes, armed  with  white  staves,  the  insignia  of 
order. 

^^  Alluding  to  the  seizure  of  the  property  of 
Tories  or  Loyalists  in  the  neighborhood  of  Boa- 


Notes. 


253 


rs,  or  light- 
tming  quite 


obtained  by 

at  Runny- 

Is,  2i.funda- 

3  rights  and 

ition  of  the 
ascertained 
periods,  by 
m. 

Jews,  held 
3  cancelled, 
and  when 
d  been  sold 
inal  propri- 
3ts  and  the 

here  closed 
lose  Judges 
n,  and  per- 
en  from  the 
>led  in  mul- 
insignia  of 

►roperty  of 
)od  of  Bos- 


ton, after  their  flight  into  tliat  city.  See  Note 
163,  Canto  IV. 

'^  An  old  method  of  mild  punishment,  used  even 
as  far  back  as  the  time  of  the  early  Jews.  The 
feet  wore  confined  in  a  wooden  frame-work,  so 
that  the  sitting  delinquent  could  not  move  them, 
and  in  that  situation  he  was  subjected  to  the  scoffs 
and  rude  insults  of  passers  by.  Hudibras,  the 
great  prototype  of  M'Fingal,  was  subjected  to  such 
punishment. 

■^  The  Loyalists  often  taunted  lihe  Whigs  be- 
cause some  of  their  leaders  were  mechanics  and 
tradesmen.  In  the  temporary  theatres  established 
by  the  British  in  Boston,  New  York,  and  Phila- 
delphia, during  the  war,  these  taunts  formed  a 
staple  of  the  amusements.  And  these  were  con- 
tinued long  afterward.  On  one  occasion  a  play 
was  in  course  of  performance  in  a  London  theatre, 
in  which  American  ofl&cers  were  represented  as 
mechanics  of  every  kind.  In  the  midst  of  the 
hilarity  which  the  play  occasioned  on  that  account, 
an  American  sailor  in  the  gallery  shouted,  "  Hur- 
rah !  England  whipt  by  cobblers  and  tailors  !  " 
The  tables  were  turned  upon  John  Bull. 

^^  Unfortunately  for  Benedict  Arnold,  when  his 
overt  act  of  treason  became  known,  he  had  not 
the  redeeming  antecedents  of  a  good  character  to 
fall  back  upon.  In  early  life  he  was  an  apothe- 
cary, and  those  with  whom  he  served  an  appren- 
ticeship in   Norwich,  Connecticut,  set  him  up  in 


254 


Notes. 


EtS 


r.'aj. 


U'lii-: 


M  I  k 

h  '   f'  Ml 


business  in  New  Haven,  where  he  also  kept  books 
and  a  general  store.  His  sign — "  B.  Arnold, 
Druggist,  Bookseller,  &c.,  from  London," — is  yet 
in  existence.  He  also  became  interested  in  the 
West  India  trade,  and  made  several  voyages 
thither.  He  sometimes  traded  in  horses  ;  and  it  is 
said  that  the  minute  knowledge  of  the  city  of 
Quebec,  displayed  by  him  whea  he  led  troops  across 
the  wilderness  to  that  place,  in  1775,  was  obtained 
during  his  previous  visits  there  for  the  purpose  of 
buying  horses.  He  finally  failed  in  business,  be- 
came a  bankrupt,  and  was  charged  with  saving  a 
good  deal  of  money  by  perjury.  In  this  sentence 
there  is  an  allusion  to  a  curious  lawsuit  which  he 
instituted  against  a  brother  skipper  for  slander. 

^^  The  author  here  remarks,  in  a  Note,  that 
"M'Fingal  having  here  inserted  the  names  and 
characters  of  several  great  men,  v*hom  the  public 
have  not  yet  fully  detected,  it  is  thought  proper 
to  omit  sundry  paragraphs  of  his  speech  in  the 
present  edition."     These  were  never  added. 

^'^  Hudibras^  a  satirical  epic  by  Samuel  Butler, 
is  one  of  the  few  productions  of  that  kind  aimed 
at  living  characters  or  systems,  which  have  sur- 
vived their  age.  Hudihras  is  a  cavalier  burlesque 
of  the  extravagant  ideas  and  rigid  manners  of  the 
English  Puritans  of  the  Civil  War  and  the  Com- 
mon wealth.  It  was  published  after  the  restora. 
tion  of  monarchy;  and  it  is  understood  that  Sir 
Hudibras,  the  chief  hero  of  the  epic,  was  the 


Notes, 


255 


representation  of  Sir  Samuel  Luke,  a  well  known 
Bedfordshire  gentleman,  one  of  Cromwell'.^  favorite 
officers.  His  character  is  strongly  marked  by  the 
peculiarities  of  that  period.  Butler's  model  for 
the  actions  of  his  hero  was  Don  Quixotte,  of  Cer- 
vantes. Hudibras  is  considered  not  only  the  best 
burlesque  of  the  Puritans,  but  the  best  satire 
in  the  English  language. 

"^  This  is  a  thrust  at  the  many  glaring  defects 
in  the  Articles  of  Confederation — the  original 
constitution  of  the  Federal  Union.  They  served 
a  good  purpose  while  the  union  was  cemented  by 
the  necessities  of  the  existing  war ;  but  when  Con- 
gress attempted  to  control  the  action  of  any  of  the 
States,  it  was  powerless.  These  defects  were  so 
grave,  that  Washington  and  others  took  measures 
to  have  a  revision  of  those  fundamental  statutes. 
A  convention  for  that  purpose  was  called,  when  it 
was  found  to  be  wiser  to  make  a  new  machine  than 
to  attempt  to  patch  up  the  old  one ;  and  a  second 
convention  framed  the  present  Federal  Constitu- 
tion, in  the  year  1787. 

^^  In  issuing  bills  of  credit,  and  in  other  trans- 
actions. Congress  "  pledged  the  faith  of  the  United 
States,"  when,  in  fact,  the  States  were  not  indi- 
vidually bound,  by  the  old  confederation,  to  redeem 
that  pledge.  The  British  ministry  would  not  re- 
cognize the  Congress  as  a  legal  body,  and  for  a 
long  time'  refused  to  hold  any  communication  with 
'.  J  members,  except  as  private  individuals.     And 


R '?■  i 


Win  J  >"i 


.;■''( 


1^' 


EJl 


h^   : 


,.|v.d 


!    ■  .' 


n 

i 

1 

11 

! 

Kt'^^^^  i 

K'tiS;' 

'■'■;T'"  '    ■ 

1 

V- '   !  . 

:,5 

'  ■  f  ■          1    r 

:^-f  ■  :^    'ill    I- 

f  r 

'i    i 

1 

iliVl 

ii 

i 

'li  IP 

is .'' 

.  ||fi 

■i 

1    ' 

f  * 

;fr 

P 

!  ' 

i    '■; 

ife^ 

-^liy 

i    i'l 

|w 

1 

ijl 

1 

L 

1  i  i 
1    ''' 

256 


Notes. 


GoTioral  Howe,  under  ministerial  instructions,  at 
first  add rnssed  letters  to  the  American  comniandcr- 
in-chiof,  aw  "  Mr.  Washington,"  alleging  that  his 
coniniis8ion  was  not  valid,  because  not  given  by  a 
legal  body.  Of  course  the  general  refused  to  re- 
ceive any  communications  thus  addressed,  nnd 
IIowQ  was  compelled  to  yield. 

'^^  Roger  Bacon  was  a  wonderful  philosopher  of 
the  tliirteenth  century.  lie  became  a  Franciscan 
monk,  but  his  scientific  discoveries  and  pursuits 
were  so  far  above  the  comprehension  of  his  asso- 
ciatoH  and  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  that  ho  was 
gei;erally  regarded  as  a  magician.  Many  stories 
of  his  magic  arts  were  circulated  ;  among  others, 
that  ho  possessed  a  human  head  of  brass,  out  of 
which  issued  wise  oracles.  His  fellow-monks  bo- 
came  afraid  of  him,  discarded  his  books,  and  finally 
procured  his  imprisonment  for  twelve  long  years. 
Ho  undoubtedly  discovered  gunpowder  and  the 
telosoopo,  and  made  many  wonderful  experiments 
in  chemistry.  In  his  treatises  he  couched  his  in- 
formation in  allegorical  figures,  and  the  then  igno- 
rant world  was  left  to  guess  at  his  meaning.  All 
may  bo  interpreted  by  the  light  of  science  at  the 
present  time. 

"  This  political  plan  of  Trinculo,  the  jester,  in 
tho  Tempesty  may  be  found  in  the  old  folio  editions 
of  Shakspeare,  but,  for  some  reason,  it  has  been  ex- 
punged by  his  commentators,  and  does  not  now 
ftppoar. 


Notes. 


257 


cstioTifl,  at 
nuiaTidcr- 
;  tlmt  his 
ivcn  by  a 
iHcd  to  rc- 
ssod,   II  nd 

>soplior  of 
j'raiiclHcan 
i  pursuits 
f  his  anso- 
lat  lie  was 
my  Btorics 
lUg  others, 
•asH,  out  of 
monks  bo- 
and  finally 
ong  years. 
2r  and  the 
xperlnients 
hed  his  in- 
then  igno- 
ming.     All 
mce  at  the 

le  jester,  in 
>Uo  editions 
las  hcon  ex- 
es not  now 


'■'  The  Centipede. 

-"  The  English  Constitution  comprehends  the 
whole  body  of  laws  by  which  the  British  people 
are  governed.  Lord  Bolingbroke  made  this  nice 
distinction :  "  This  assemblage  of  laws  is  distin- 
guished from  the  term  government  in  this  resjicct ; 
that  the  Constitution  is  the  rule  by  which  the 
sovereign  ought  to  rule  at  all  times,  and  govern- 
ment is  that  by  which  he  does  govern  at  any  par- 
ticular time." 

^'  See  Note  76,  Canto  I. 

^'  We  have  already  alluded  in  Note  83,  Canto  I., 
to  the  destruction  of  tea  in  Boston  harbor.  It  was 
done  immediately  after  the  breaking  up  of  a  popu- 
lar meeting  in  the  Old  South  Church,  Boston,  on 
the  evening  of  the  16th  of  December,  1773.  Mr. 
Josiah  Quincy  had  pronounced  an  eloquent  and 
stirring  speech  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon. 
Twilight  approached,  and  a  call  was  made  for  can- 
dles. At  that  moment,  a  person  in  the  gallery, 
disguised  as  a  Mohawk  Indian,  raised  the  war- 
whoop,  and  was  immediately  answered  from  with- 
out. Another  voice  cried  out,  "  Boston  Harbor 
a  tea-pot  to-night !  Hurrah  for  Griffin's  wharf  1  " 
At  that  wharf  the  two  tea-ships  were  moored.  The 
meeting  broke  up  in  great  excitement,  and  several 
persons,  disguised  as  Indians,  were  seen  to  cross 
Fort  Hill  to  Griffin's  wharf.  There  was  evident 
concert  of  action,  and  about  fifteen  or  twenty  per- 
sons thus  disguised, .  with  others  difl"erently  con- 


258 


Notes. 


Jf;     ' 


m 


cealed,  went  on  board  the  ships,  deliberately  took 
the  chests  of  tea  from  the  holds,  broke  them  open, 
and  cast  their  contents  into  the  water.  Three 
hundred  and  forty-two  chests  of  tea  were  thus 
destroyed. 

^^  The  tea-ships  were  watched  for  twenty  suc- 
cessive nights  by  parties  of  young  men,  to  prevent 
the  landing  of  the  cargo.  Under  the  Indian  dis- 
guise, when  the  tea  was  destroyed,  might  have 
been  seen  ruffled  shirts  and  laced  vests ;  for  those 
who  performed  that  act  were  among  the  most  re- 
spectable residents  of  Boston.  Samuel  Adams,  the 
sturdy  patriot,  was  one  of  them. 

'*  The  moccasin  is  the  flexible  Indian  shoe,  gene- 
rally made  of  the  tanned  deer-skin,  and  is  often 
highly  ornamented. 

^  Wampum  was  the  money  of  the  Indians,  and 
constituted  expensive  ornaments.  It  was  made 
of  the  clear  parts  of  the  clam-shell,  wrought  into 
the  form  of  small  cylinders,  like  the  beads  of  our 
day  known  as  bugles^  and  about  half  an  inch  in 
length.  They  were  arranged  in  strings  and  helis. 
When  used  for  ornaments,  they  were  disposed  in 
alternate  layers  of  white  and  black.  As  a  circu- 
lating medium,  they  were  valued  at  about  two 
cents  for  three  black  beads,  or  six  of  the  white 
ones.  They  were  strung  in  parcels  to  represent  a 
penny,  three  pence,  a  shilling,  and  five  shillings  of 
white,  and  double  that  amount  in  black.  The  al- 
lusion to  "  laces  "  refers  to  the  respectable  charac- 


Notes. 


259 


ter  of  the  persons  engaged  in  the  destruction  of  the 
tea,  as  mentioned  in  a  preceding  note. 

^^  That  is,  painted  their  faces.  A  single  coat 
of  paint  is  technically  called  a  priming. 

^*  The  British  soldiers,  whose  coats  were  made 
of  scarlet  cloth,  were  called  Red-coats.  In  allu- 
sion to  the  same  color,  the  provincial  troops  in  the 
French  and  Indian  war  sometimes  called  the 
British  Regulars,  "  lobsters." 

^^  Governor  Hutchinson  was  very  much  alarmed 
at  the  proceedings  of  the  populace  in  dcdtroying 
the  tea,  and  very  early  the  next  morning  he  i*^- 
tired  secretly  to  his  country-seat  at  Milton,  a  short 
distance  from  the  city.  There  he  received  an  in- 
timation that  the  mob  was  coming  to  pull  down 
his  house.  With  the  utmost  haste  he  escaped 
across  the  fields.  The  story  was  current  at  the 
time,  that  he  was  half-shaved  by  the  barber  when 
the  alarming  news  reached  him,  and  that  in  such 
plight — "  in  the  suds  "  and  bare-headed,  he  fled. 

3**  See  Note  85,  Canto  I. 

^^  This  alludes  to  the  general  breaking-up  of  all 
the  councils  of  the  royal  governors  in  the  colonies. 
These  officials,  unable  to  stem  the  current  of  pub- 
lic opinion  and  popular  indignation,  were  compelled 
to  relinquish  their  power  and  leave  the  country. 

*°  Although  some  of  the  earlier  organizations  of 
the  Sons  of  Liberty  took  place  in  the  city  of  New 
York,  yet  the  Loyalists  held  sway  there  in  the 
public  councils  longer  than  in  any  other  province. 


ff  i 


260 


Notes. 


>9' 


m} 


m 


J- 


ii 


mm 


Ii  ei 


m\ 


i 


M 


P'!.|   !,Jlii;n 


I!?'    ■ 


Jf|:^'* 


fi     i! 


When  tlio  Provincial  Congress  met  on  the  22d  of 
May,  1775,  its  political  complexion  greatly  disap- 
pointed the  people ;  for  much  timidity  prevailed 
in  the  Assembly,  and  under  the  influence  of  Gov- 
ernor Tryon  and  the  municipal  authority,  a  major- 
ity of  the  members  were  favorable  to  conciliatory 
measures,  instead  of  vigorous  preparations  for  de- 
fence. For  this  reason  New  York  was  taunted  as 
loyal,  when  the  great  mass  of  the  people  were 
really  wliig  to  the  core. 

*'  When  the  skirmishes  at  Lexington  and  Con- 
cord became  known  in  New  York,  Captain  Isaac 
Sears,  one  of  the  boldest  of  the  patriots  of  the  day, 
was  in  custody  on  a  charge  of  making  treasonable 
propositions  to  the  people.  He  was  about  to  be 
taken  to  prison,  when  the  populace  took  him  forci- 
bly from  the  officers,  and  bore  him  in  triumph 
through  the  town,  preceded  by  a  band  of  music 
and  a  banner.  This  is  the  occurrence  alluded  to 
by  Dr.  Auchmuty  in  Note  57,  Canto  I.  The  peo- 
ple also  took  possession  of  the  City  Hall,  armed 
themselves,  and,  led  by  John  Lamb,  Marinus  Wil- 
lett,  John  Morin  Scott,  and  others,  they  embar- 
goed all  vessels  in  the  harbor,  laden  with  provisions 
for  the  British  army  in  Boston.  A  cargo  of  rum 
for  the  patriots  arrived.  The  collector  of  the  port 
would  not  allow  it  to  be  landed.  Sears  and  Lamb, 
with  a  largo  concourse  of  people,  took  possession 
of  it,  carried  it  to  its  destination  in  the  city,  and, 
returning  to  the  custom-house,  they  demanded  and 


Notes. 


261 


received  the  keys  of  that  establisliment,  dismissed 
the  employees,  and  closed  the  building.  All  the 
money  and  arms  in  the  custom-house  wore  seized ; 
and  during  the  summer  many  of  such  overt  acts 
of  rebellion  were  committed  by  the  highly  exas- 
perated people.  Tories  were  insulted ;  and  on 
one  occasion,  when  the  Sons  of  Liberty  were  carry- 
ing oflf  the  cannon  from  Fort  George  and  the  Lat- 
tery, and  the  Asia  man-of-war  fired  upon  them, 
the  story  was  circulated  that  the  city  was  about  to 
be  pillaged  and  burnt.  Hundreds  of  men,  women 
and  children,  frightened  by  the  rumor,  hurried  off 
at  midnight  beyond  the  suburbs  of  the  doomed 
town. 

*^  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  quandary  in  which 
events  placed  William  Smith,  an  eminent  lawyer 
of  New  York,  who  seemed  very  desirous  of  being 
on  the  strongest  side.  He  first  opposed  the  mea- 
sures of  Great  Britain,  but  finally  adhered  to  the 
crown,  and  became  a  very  decided  Loyalist.  He 
was  brother  to  Joshua  Hett  Smith,  who  figured  in 
the  Arnold  and  Andre  episode.  Smith  afterward 
became  Chief  Justice  of  Canada. 

*^  Burning  or  hanging  the  efl&gy  of  an  obnoxious 
ofiicer  was  a  common  practice,  and  is  still  con- 
tinued. It  was  an  indication  of  the  public  senti- 
ment against  a  man,  and  was  practised  here  in  imi- 
tation of  a  former  custom  of  the  English,  in  burning 
annually  effigies  of  the  Pope,  the  Devil,  and  the 
Pretender. 


262 


Notes. 


mi 


**  In  almost  every  case  of  effigy  burning,  that  of 
the  Devil  was  associated  with  the  mortal  oflfender. 
Thus,  when  in  1765  a  mob  in  New  York  burned 
the  effigy  of  Lieutenant-Governor  Cadwallader 
Golden,  they  placed  an  image  of  the  Devil,  with 
a  boot  in  his  hand,  by  his  side.  The  boot  (used 
also  in  caricatures  of  that  period)  was  a  representa- 
tion of  the  Earl  of  Bute,  mentioned  in  Note  7, 
Canto  I.,  because  of  a  similarity  in  the  orthoepy. 

"  William  Tryon  had  figured  as  an  oppressor, 
from  1768  to  1771,  in  North  Carolina,  where  a 
party  calling  themselves  Regulators^  in  the  west- 
ern part  of  the  State,  raised  the  standard  of  rebel- 
lion. He  became  governor  of  New- York,  and  held 
that  office  when  the  war  broke  out.  Like  other 
royal  governors,  he  was  compelled  to  yield  to 
popular  indignation,  and  he  retaliated  as  a  mili- 
tary leader.     We  shall  meet  him  again. 

**  Joseph  Galloway  was  an  influential  and  very 
popular  Whig  leader  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  com- 
mencement of  troubles.  He  had  worked  shoulder 
to  shoulder  with  Dr.  Franklin  in  the  Pennsylvania 
Assembly  against  the  Proprietaries,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  First  Continental  Congress  in  1774. 
After  a  while,  when  there  appeared  no  chance  for 
Teconciliation  with  Great  Britain,  he  wavered ; 
and  in  1776  he  abandoned  the  Whigs,  wrote  much 
against  them,  and  became  one  of  the  most  violent 
and  prescriptive  Loyalists  of  the  time.  He  joined 
the  royal  army  in  New  York,  and  from  thence  he 


Notes. 


263 


ng,  that  of 
il  offender, 
rk  burned 
[idwallader 
)evil,  with 
boot  (used 
representa- 
in  Note  7, 
orthoepy, 
oppressor, 
a,  where  a 
Q  the  west- 
•d  of  rebel- 
j,  and  held 
Like  other 
)  yield  to 
as  a  mili- 

l  and  very 
t  the  com- 
d  shoulder 
QDsylvania 
md  was  a 
33  in  1774. 
chance  for 
wavered ; 
rote  much 
)st  violent 
He  joined 
thence  he 


went  to  England  in  1778,  where  he  remained  until 
bis  death  in  1803.  Just  before  bis  escape,  a 
trunk  was  put  on  board  a  vessel  in  the  Delaware, 
directed  to  Joseph  Galloway,  Esq.  It  contained 
only,  as  Shakspeare  says, 

"  A  halter  gratis,  and  leave  to  hang  himself." 

His  examination  before  the  House  of  Commons 
was  a  remarkable  episode  in  the  history  of  that 
period.  He  was  in  continual  correapondcnce  with 
Loyalists  in  America  for  many  years,  upon  sub- 
jects connected  with  the  war.  His  estate  in 
Pennsylvania,  valued  at  $200,000,  was  confiscated ; 
but  a  greater  portion  of  it  was  afterward  restored 
to  his  daughter,  it  having  been  originally  d.erived 
from  his  wife. 

*^  Mainprize,  in  law,  is  a  writ  directed  to  a 
sheriff,  commanding  him  to  take  sureties  for  the 
prisoner's  appearance,  and  to  let  him  go  at  large. 
The  allusions  in  this  sentence  are  to  the  retreat  of 
the  British,  after  the  skirmishes  at  Lexington  and 
Concord.  The  minute-men,  concealed  behind 
stone-walls,  bushes  and  buildings,  galled  them  ter- 
ribly. A  greater  part  of  the  loss  of  the  eneipy 
on  that  day  occurred  from  this  mode  of  warfare. 

*^  It  was  a  favorite  method  of  the  royal  officers, 
when  speaking  of  the  "  rebels,"  or  in  making 
propositions  to  them,  to  say,  "  The  door  of  mercy 
is  shut,"  or  "  it  will  soon  bo  shut,"  and  "  Vengeance 
shall  sleep  no  more.'' 


264 


Notes. 


:>'H 


I  ! 


I'lY.i 


*•  Dagon,  the  cliief  idol-god  of  tho  Philistines, 
represented  with  the  body  of  a  man,  and  tho  tail 
of  a  fish.    1  Samuel  v.  1-5. 

^^  The  Tory  clergy  always  spoke  of  the  king  as 
The  Lord's  Anointed.  . 

"'  Joshua,  cliapter  vi. 

"  When  the  people  had  fairly  lifted  tho  arm  of 
open  resistance,  they  would  not  acknowledge  tlio 
king  as  ruler  in  any  form.  Henry  Laurens  boldly 
asserted  his  independence  in  this  particular,  even 
•while  a  state  prisoner,  on  a  charge  of  treason,  in 
the  Tower  of  London,  in  17 8L  lie  was  at  first 
treated  very  rigorously,  but  the  people  of  England 
became  so  clamorous  because  of  the  injustice,  that 
ministers  were  very  anxious  to  relieve  themselves 
of  the  odium.  He  was  offered  pardon  if  he  would 
ask  it.  He  nobly  refused,  because  he  had  done 
nothing  that  required  pardon.  Then  the  ministry 
procured  bail  for  him,  intending  that  his  release 
from  confinement,  under  that  form  of  law,  should 
be  perpetual.  When,  in  reading  the  form,  tho 
clerk  of  the  court  repeated  the  words,  "  Our  sove- 
reign Lord  and  King,"  the  prisoner  immediately 
said,  "  Not  my  Sovereign,"  and  refused  to  ac- 
knowledge George  the  Third  as  such.  He  was 
bailed,  and  then  joined  the  commission  to  nego- 
tiate for  peace  between  the  two  countries. 

^^  Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  Book  12.  The  Lapi- 
thae  and  Centaurs  were  hostile  tribes  of  Thessaly. 


tl-';ii 


If}'  '< 


Notes. 


265 


Tho  latter,  because  always  seen  on  horseback,  were 
said  to  be  half  men  and  half  liorscs. 

"  Bacchus  was  tho  god  of  Wine — the  tutelar 
deity  of  inebriates — a  personification  of  sensual 
indulgence. 

"  Pallas  was  one  of  the  names  of  the  goddess 
Mhierva,  as  opposed  to  the  wild  war-god,  Mars ; 
and  she  was  the  patroness  and  teacher  of  just  and 
scientific  warfare.  She  was  the  presiding  deity  in 
the  Parthenon  at  Athens. 

'®  Mars  was  the  great  god  of  War  in  the  Greek 
mythology. 

"  Iris  was  the  daughter  of  Thaumas  and  Elcc- 
ira — Wonder  and  Brightness — and  was  the  god- 
dess of  tho  Rainbow. 

*^  In  this  the  reader  will  readily  observe  the  al- 
lusions to  the  single  combats  of  Paris  and  IMen- 
elaus,  as  described  by  Homer ;  and  of  jEneas  and 
Turnus,  mentioned  by  Virgil.  Also  of  Michael 
and  Satan,  in  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Book  VI. 

^^  It  was  the  fashion  in  New  England  at  that 
time  for  Judges  to  wear  swords,  on  the  bench. 

^"  Vulcan  was  the  god  of  Fire,  the  great  me- 
chanic of  the  Greek  mythology.  Mount  Etna 
and  other  volcanoes  were  regarded  as  his  forges, 
and,  according  to  the  legends,  he  made  imple- 
ments of  war  for  the  old  Grecian  heroes. 


«i 


"  The  sword 


Was  given  him  tempered  so  that  neither  keen 
ligli 
12 


Nor  solid  might  resist  its  edge :  it  met 


W      1     •    i::l' 


N 


( ' 


y.  1 1 


266  Notes, 

The  sword  of  Satan  with  steep  force  to  smite 
Descending,  and  in  half  cut  sheer." 

Milton^s  Paradise  Lost,  Book  VI. 

•'  Milton's  Paradise  Lostj  Book  II. 

*'  This  idea  is  from  Juvenal,  Satire  15. 

"  Alluding  to  the  large  people  described  in 
Gulliver's  Travels^  already  mentioned,  and  to  the 
popular  belief  that  the  Patagonian?  who  inhabit 
the  southern  extremity  of  South  America,  were 
giants  in  stature. 

«5  "And  earth  self-balanced  on  her  centre  hung." 

Milton. 

**  Aristophanes,  in  his  Comedy  of  The  Clouds, 
represents  Socrates  as  hoisted  in  a  basket.  The 
object  was  to  aid  him  in  contemplation. 

^■^  The  hatchel  was  an  impleiaent  used  in  domes- 
tic manufacture  to  clean  the  coarser  from  the  finer 
fabric  of  the  flax,  when  preparing  it  for  spinning. 
It  was  made  of  a  piece  of  plank,  with  a  large  num- 
ber of  iron  spikes  driven  through,  and  standing 
upright  and  close  together.  Througli  them  the 
flax  was  drawn  by  hand,  and  the  iow  was  sepa- 
rated from  the  finer  fibre. 

«^  See  Note  19,  Canto  III. 

*^  At  that  time  the  barbarous  practice  of  clip- 
ping off  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the  ears  of  crimi- 
nals was  in  vogue.     It  was  called  cropping. 

''  See  Note  87,  Canto  I. 

"  Israel  Williams  was  a  member  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Assembly  for  many  years,  and  became  a 


Notes. 


267 


Mandamus  Councillor  in  1774.  That  fact  brought 
Whig  vengeance  upon  him.  Though  old  and  quite 
infirm,  a  mob  took  him  from  his  house  one  night, 
carried  him  several  miles,  and  put  him  into  a  room 
with  fire.  They  then  closed  the  doors  and  the  top 
of  the  chimney,  and  kept  him  there  in  the  smoke 
several  hours.  On  being  released  he  was  compelled 
to  sign  a  sort  of  recantation,  drawn  up  by  one  of 
his  tormentors. 

'^  Thomas  Oliver,  of  Cambridge,  who  mingled 
but  little  in  politics.  He  was  the  last  Royal  Lieu- 
teuant-Governor  of  Massachusetts.  His  house 
was  mobbed  on  the  morning  of  September  2, 1774, 
because  of  his  refusal  to  resign  his  seat  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  Mandamus  Council.  They  compelled 
him  to  make  a  sort  of  resignation  in  writing. 
Governor  Oliver  went  to  Halifax  with  the  British 
troops,  and  from  thence  to  England.  He  died  at 
Bristol  in  1815. 

"  See  Note  59,  Canto  I. 

'*  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  the  mobs  in  New 
England  at  that  time  always  conducted  their  pro- 
ceedings after  the  prescribed  legal  forms,  when 
they  tried  and  condemned  Tories. 

"  This  was  in  retaliation  and  imitation  of  the 
outrageous  conduct  of  Colonel  Nesbitt,  mentioned 
in  Note  38^  Canto  II.  Sometimes  those  who  re- 
ceived a  coat  of  tar  and  feathers  were  placed 
astride  a  rail,  and  were  thus  paraded  through  the 
town. 


268 


Notes. 


'®  The  Jewish  kings  were  "  anointed "  by  the 
High  Priest  before  they  were  crowned,  by  having 
perfumed  oil  poured  upon  their  heads.  Hence  the 
cant  of  Tory  clergymen  at  that  time,  in  calling 
King  George  "  The  Lord's  Anointed."  To  this 
day  an  allusion  to  the  ancient  practice  is  contained 
in  the  expression  "  By  the  Grace  of  God,  King," 
&c. 

"  See  Claudian's  GigantomacTiia. 

'^  Enceladus  was  one  of  the  Giants  or  Titans 
who  warred  against  Jove.  As  he  fled,  Minerva 
flung  the  Island  of  Sicily  upon  him,  when,  accord- 
ing to  the  poets,  his  motions  caused  the  eruptions 
of  ^tna. 

'^  Mai  was  the  mother  of  Mercury.     See  Note 

24,  Canto  I. 

^^  "  A  seraph  winged ;  six  wings  he  wore,  to  shade 
His  lineaments  divine." 

Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Book  Y. 

^'  The  Gordons  were  three  sisters — Stheno,  Eu- 
rydle,  and  Medusa,Mvho8G  hairs  were  entwined  with 
serpents,  and  they  had  wings  of  gold.  Their 
hands  were  of  brass,  and  their  bodies  were  cov- 
ered with  impenetrable  scales.  Their  teeth  were 
as  long  as  the  tusks  of  a  wild  boar,  and  they  turned 
to  stone  all  those  upon  whom  they  fixed  their  eyes. 
Chimera  was  a  terrible  monster,  that  vomited 
fire.  It  had  the  head  and  neck  of  a  lion,  the  body 
of  a  goat,  and  the  tail  of  a  serpent. 

^'^  Plato's  famous  definition  of  man  was,  animal 


Notes. 


269 


hipes  implumis :  "  a  two-legged  animal  without 
feathers." 

^^  In  ancient  Rome,  the  union  of  two  men  in 
the  same  ofl&ce  was  called  a  Duumvirate.  Several 
kinds  of  offices  were  thus  filled  by  two  persons  at 
the  same  time. 

^  Livy  mentions  the  fact  that  an  owl  having 
been  discovered  in  Rome,  it  was  considered  an 
omen  of  great  evil.  It  was  caught,  taken  from 
temple  to  temple,  where  lustrations  were  per- 
formed, and  in  great  and  solemn  procession  the  Ro- 
mans conducted  the  ill-omened  bird  beyond  the 
walls,  and  set  it  at  liberty  in  the  forest. 

*^  Votes  were  frequently  passed  at  town  meet- 
ings in  New  England,  wi'ii  a  view  to  prevent 
the  augmentation  of  prices  of  various  arti- 
cles, and  to  stop  the  depreciation  of  Continental 
money. 

*^  A  shell-fish  which  often  adheres  to  the  bottoms 
of  ships  at  sea  (as  well  as  rocks  and  timber)  in  such 
quantities  as  to  impede  their  progress. 


87 


*'  I  hear  a  voice  you  cannot  hear, 
That  says  I  must  uot  stay." 

Ticknell's  Ballad. 


^^  In  the  debate  on  Lord  North's  first  proposi- 
tion in  Parliament,  in  February,  1775,  to  use  co- 
ercive measures  against  the  Colonies,  the  celebra- 
ted John  Wilkes,  then  a  member  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  iiwov  of  the 


I!    Ifi 
1 


270 


Notes*. 


Araorioans.  Ho  declared  that "  a  proper  resiHtanco 
to  wrong  was  revolution,  not  rebellion,^^  and  pro* 
phetioally  intimated  that  if  the  Americans  were 
sucooBsful  in  the  struggle  then  commenced,  they 
might,  in  after  times,  celebrate  the  Revolution  of 
1775,  as  the  English  did  that  of  1G88,  when  thi^y 
drove  the  last  of  the  Stuart  kings  from  the  throne. 


m-,:i  ':? 


ri  fi 


fc#'    ) 


CANTO  IV. 

'  The  Tories  during  the  Revolution,  being  not 
only  in  the  minority,  but  more  hated  by  the  Whigs 
than  were  the  British  soldiery,  were  compelhid  to 
use  great  caution,  and  their  secret  meetings  were 
held  in  cellars  and  other  lurking-places. 

'  The  great  hall  or  council-chamber  of  evil 
spirits.  A  description  of  it,  in  Paradise  Lost,  Rook 
I.,  is  one  of  the  most  sublime  creations  of  3Iilton's 
genius,  and  has  been  embodied  by  art,  by  the  fine 
pencil  of  Martin  of  our  day. 

'^  In  all  New  England  cellars,  bins  are  furnisli- 
ed  for  vegetables  in  winter.  They  are  generally 
about  four  feet  in  height,  and  form  good  places 
for  concealment. 

*         — '*  His  form  had  not  yet  lost 

All  its  original  brightness,  nor  appeared 
Less  than  Archangel  ruined." 

Milton's  FaradUe  Lost,  Boole  I. 


Notes. 


271 


*  It  must  be  remembered  how  the  Whigs  had 
just  robed  poor  Squire  McFingal  in  tar  and 
feathers. 

®  See  Note  6,  Canto  I. 

'  See  Note  98,  Canto  I. 

®  Drunk  on  flip.     See  Note  5,  Canto  III. 

*  Tar  is  procured  from  the  pine  and  fir  trees,  by 
burning  the  wood  by  a  close  smothering  heat. 


10 


"  To  drive  the  deci'e  with  hound  and  home, 
Erie  Percy  took  his  way  ; 
The  child  may  rue  that  is  unborne, 
The  hunting  of  that  day." 

CJtevy  Chase. 


"  John  Malcolm  was  a  Scotchman,  who  settled 
in  North  Carolina,  -after  the  famous  rebellion  of 
1745.  He  was  aid  to  Governor  Trjon  in  1771, 
when  he  went  against  the  Regulators.  [See  Note 
12,  Canto  IV.]  He  afterward  became  a  custom- 
house oflficer  at  Falmouth  (now  Portland),  in 
Maine;  and  early  in  1774,  he  was  in  a  similar 
position  in  Boston.  He  was  an  insolent  man. 
One  da7  he  struck  a  tradesman  for  an  alleoed 
insult,  and  a  warrant  was  issued  for  his  arrest. 
The  constable  pretended  he  could  not  find  him. 
A  mob  gathered  about  his  house,  when  he  thrust 
a  sword  through  a  broken  window  and  wounded 
one  of  them.  They  broke  in,  found  him  in  a 
chamber,  lowered  him  by  a  rope  from  a  window 
to  a  cart,  tore  off  his  clothes,  tarred  and  feathered 


272 


Notes. 


■I^i: 


VW"-- 


•i   I   I 


^1    d 


i:\'<m. 


mm 

w 


him,  and  dragged  him  through  several  of  the 
streets,  with  a  rope  around  his  neck,  to  Liberty 
Tree.  From  there  he  was  taken  to  a  gallows  on 
Boston  Neck,  beaten,  and  threatened  with  death. 
In  ihe  cours'j  jf  an  hour,  he  was  conveyed  to  the 
extreme  north  end  of  the  town ;  and  then,  after  be- 
ing bruised,  and  benumbed  with  cold  for  four 
hours,  tliey  took  him  back  to  his  house.  What 
hccarao  of  him  afterward,  is  not  on  record.  He 
was  despised  by  both  parties,  and  became  equally 
Tiialevolent  toward  Whigs  and  Tories. 

"  The  rapacity  of  officials  in  North  Carolina, 
caused  a  great  increase  in  the  taxes  of  the  pro- 
vince during  the  adminstration  of  Governor  Tryon. 
The  oppression  was  real — not  an  abstract  princi- 
ple, as  in  New  England.  The  people  in  the  in- 
terior associated  for  protection,  and  as  already 
mentioned,  they  called  themselves  Itegulaiors  of 
public  affairs.  In  the  spring  of  1771,  their  opera- 
tions became  open  rebellion,  and  Tryr;:i  marched 
to  subduL  them  with  a  strong  miliiia  force.  The 
belligerents  met  on  ihe  Allamance,  a  tributary  of 
the  Haw,  in  Allam,.  ice  County.  While  in  oppos' 
ing  battle  order,  jlalcolm,  Tr}3n's  aid  above 
mentioned,  was  seno  fflth.  c^,  Hag  of  truce.  Hceeat 
perfidy  on  the  part  of  Tryon,  nuu^o  the  Regulators 
reckless  of  the  rules  of  war,  and  tbey  immediately 
fired  on  the  bearer.  Malcolm  took  to  his  heels, 
and,  as  tradition  avers,  the  buttons  of  his  small 


Notes. 


273 


i\  of  the 
►  Liberty 
Tallows  on 
ritli  death. 
yed  to  the 
1,  after  be- 
l  for  four 
se.     What 
cord.     He 
me  eq^ually 

I   Carolina, 
►f  the  pro- 
raor  Tryon. 
act  princi- 
)  in  the  in- 
as    already 
julators  of 
aeir  opera- 
:i  marcLed 
orce.     The 
ributary  of 
e  in  oppos' 
aid   above 
a.     Kceeat 
Kcgulators 
mnicdiately 
o  his  heels, 
)f  his  small 


clothes  gave  way  in  his  haste.     "  He  saved  his 
lifo,"  however,  and  cared  little  for  the  ridicule. 

'•^  There  is  in  the  scene  that  follows,  a  general 
allusion  to  the  appearance  and  speech  of  Hector's 
Ghost,  in  the  second  book  of  Virgil's  ^neid. 

"  In  1715,  a  son  of  James  the  Second  of  Eng- 
land, who  had  been  acknowledged  king  of  that 
realm,  as  James  the  Third,  by  Louis  the  Four- 
teenth of  France,  set  up  his  standar !  in  Scotland, 
and  caused  a  rebellion  there.  It  was  suppressed, 
and  the  Pretender,  as  the  prince  was  called, 
escaped  to  the  continent.  In  1745,  his  son, 
Charles  Edward,  landed  in  Scotland,  proclaimed 
his  father  king  of  Great  Britain,  and  caused  an- 
other serious  rebellion.  That,  too,  was  suppressed 
the  following  year,  and  many  of  the  Highlanders 
v '^0  were  implicated  came  to  America,  and  settled 
in  the  Oarolinas,  as  voluntary  or  involuntary 
refugecF.  Among  them  was  the  famed  Flora 
McDonald.  x  ^is  was  ''  the  last  rebellion  "  al- 
luded tc  Ijy  the  poet. 

16  "Lea>fmg  the  oM,  both  worlds  at  once  they  view, 
Who  stand  upon  the  threshold  of  the  new." 

Waller. 

'®  -^neas  was  a  celebrated  Trojan  warrior, 
whose  adventures  and  wanderings  form  the  sub- 
ject of  Virgil's  -^neid. 

"  Orpheus  was  a  Greek  poet,  musician,  and 

philosopher.    His  beloved  wife  Eurydice  died,  and 
12* 


274 


Notes. 


m  ^^ 


ti 


the  disoonsolato  husband  determined  to  descend 
to  the  regions  of  Pluto,  and  attempt  to  induce  the 
powers  of  the  lower  world  to  allow  her  to  return 
to  the  domain  of  light.  His  music  charmed  all  the 
gods  of  the  infernal  regions.  His  wife  was  re- 
leased, and  allowed  to  follow  him,  on  condition 
than  he  should  not  look  back  upon  her  until  they 
had  passed  the  confines  of  darkness.  His  impa- 
tienoe  made  him  violate  the  conditions,  and  she 
was  lost  to  him  for  ever. 

'^  Erebus,  in  the  old  mythology,  or  Orcus,  in 
tlie  ancient  Latin  religion,  was  the  region  of  dark- 
ness. They  wore  the  same  as  Hades  and  Pluto 
of  the  Greeks. 

^^  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Book  xi. 

'^**  Milton's  Paradise  Lost,  Book  xi.  Euphrasy 
is  a  genus  of  plant,  sometimes  called  eye-bright. 
Rue  is  a  bitter  plant,  and  the  two  compounded, 
were  formerly  used  in  making  eye-water  to 
strengthen  the  vision. 

"  The  general  rising  of  all  the  colonies  to  re- 
sistance, after  the  meeting  of  the  first  Continental 
Congress  in  the  autumn  of  1774,  is  here  alluded 
to.     Each  colony  had  its  particular  flag. 

""  The  American  Congress  resolved,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1775,  to  invade  Canada.  An  army  under 
General  Schuyler  went  down  Lake  Champlain ; 
Schuyler  sickened  and  returned  to  Albany,  Gene- 
ral Richard  Montgomery  took  the  command,  and 
at  tho  close  of  August,  he  appeared  before  St. 


Notes. 


275 


Jobn  on  the  Sorel,  the  first  military  post  within 
the  Canadian  lines.  He  captured  the  fort  and  gar- 
rison, and  pushing  forward,  captured  Montreal,  on 
the  nothern  bank  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  on  the  13th 
of  November.  Flushed  with  success,  ho  pushed 
forward  toward  his  grand  destination,  Quebec. 
He  first  besieged  and  then  attempted  to  storm 
the  city.  The  attack  was  unsuccessful,  and  there 
Montgomery  lost  his  life. 

^*  In  the  summer  of  1777,  Lieutenant-general 
Burgoyne,  with  a  large  force  of  British,  Germans, 
and  Canadian  soldiers,  and  a  horde  of  Indians,  in- 
vaded New  York  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain. 
He  captured  Ticonderoga  in  July,  and  pressing 
forward,  reached  Saratoga  on  the  upper  Hudson, 
in  September.  The  Americans  fortified  Bomis's 
Heights  near  Stillwater,  to  oppose  him.  A  hard- 
fought  battle  occurred.  Burgoyne  was  driven 
back,  and  after  another  battle  early  in  October, 
he  was  compelled  to  surrender  his  whole  force  of 
more  than   five  thousand  men. 

**  Before  he  crossed  the  Hudson,  a  little  above 
Stillwater,  Burgoyne  was  induced  to  send  an  expe- 
dition to  Bennington  in  Vermont,  to  capture  need- 
ful stores  and  cattle,  for  his  provision  had  become 
very  scarce.  Five  hundred  Germans,  Canadians, 
and  Tories,  and  one  hundred  Indians,  all  com- 
manded by  a  German  officer,  composed  the  expedi- 
tion. Colonel  John  Stark,  with  the  New  Hamp- 
shire militia,  met  them  in  the  town  of  Hoosick,  a 


(I! 


?'  (' 


276 


Notes. 


'!i    ' 


11  ■,»'i  I J 


few  miles  from  Bennington,  and  after  a  severe 
engagement,  totally  routed  the  invaders.  T)ii;-i 
defeat  was  a  very  severe  blow  to  Burgoyne. 

-°  The  British  held  possession  of  a  strong  fort 
on  Stony  Point,  a  small  rocky  promontory,  jutting 
into  the  Hudson  river  a  few  miles  below  the  lower 
entrance  to  the  Highlands.  On  the  night  of  the 
15th  July,  1779,  General  Anthony  Wayne  led  a 
choice  band  of  soldiers  to  surprise  the  garrison. 
He  was  entirely  successful ;  and  though  severely 
wounded  in  the  head,  he  wrote  to  Washington,  on 
the  ramparts,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning,  "  The 
fort  and  garrisoji,  with  Colonel  Johnson,  are  ours." 
It  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  events  of  the  war. 

^*  After  being  driven  before  the  British  host, 
across  New  Jersey,  Washington  and  his  handful 
of  half-starving,  half-naked  troops,  stood  shivering 
in  cold  December,  on  the  Pennsylvania  shores  of 
the  Delaware,  opposit'^  Trenton.  A  detachment 
of  Hessians,  under  Colonel  Ball,  occupied  that 
post.  Christmas  day  approached.  Washington 
knew  full  well  that  the  Germans  would  have  a 
carouse  on  that  day,  and  therefore  would  be 
weaker  and  less  guarded  than  usual.  On  Christ- 
mas night  he  crossed  the  Delaware  in  boats,  in 
the  midst  of  floating  ice,  eight  miles  above  Tren- 
ton, and  early  in  the  morning,  fell  upon  the  Hes- 
sians while  their  commander  was  yet  drinking 
with  boon  companions.  The  Hessians  were  cap- 
tured, and  were  taken  across  the  river  as  prison- 


Notes. 


277 


a  sevoro 

le. 

rong  fort 

^,  jutfm.£r 

the  lower 
lit  of  the 
rne  led  a 
garrison. 
L  severely 
ugton,  on 


.i>2, 


u 


6-     The 
are  oiu'r." 
f  the  war. 
tlsh  host, 
s  handful 
shivering 
shores  of 
etachment 
ipied  that 
'ashington 
Id  have  a 
would   be 
)n  Christ- 
boats,  in 
>ove  Tren- 
1  the  Hes- 
drinting 
were  cap- 
as  prison- 


ers. This  bold  and  biilliant  stroke  alarmed  the 
British,  and  gave  new  courage  to  the  desponding 
Americans. 

"  Encouraged  by  his  success  at  Trenton,  "Wash- 
ington resolved  to  act  on  the  offensive.  He  crossed 
the  Delaware  and  took  post  at  Trenton.  Cornwal- 
lis  marched  against  him  from  Princeton  ten  miles 
distant,  leaving  Colonel  Mawhood  in  command  of 
a  detachment  there.  Cornwallis  encamped  on  one 
side  of  a  small  stream,  opposite  the  American 
army,  on  the  evening  of  the  2d  of  January,  1777, 
intending  to  make  an  easy  capture  of  the  "  rebels  " 
in  the  morning.  During  the  night,  Washington 
secretly  withdrew  ;  and  at  dawn,  while  Cornwallis 
"was  rubbing  his  opening  eyelids,  he  heard  the 
booming  of  Washington's  cannon  at  Princeton. 
At  first  he  thought  the  sound  was  thunder ;  he 
was  soon  undeceived.  The  Americans,  after  a 
severe  skirmish  at  Princeton,  defeated  and  routed 
Mawhood,  who  was  greatly  applauded  for  his  skill 
in  escaping  with  two  hundred  men.  Cornwallis 
came  to  his  assistance,  but  Washington  had  hasten- 
ed forward,  and  was  soon  far  beyond  his  reach  in 
the  hill-country  of  the  Jerseys. 

^^  In  September,  1777,  the  Americans  under 
Washington,  had  a  severe  battle  with  the  British 
under  Howe  and  Cornwallis,  on  the  Brandywino 
Crt)ek,  jn  lower  Pennsylvania,  and  were  defeated 
with  much  loss.  The  British  also  suffered  much 
loss  on  that  occasion.     Not  long  afterward  (early 


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in  October)  there  was  a  severe  battle  at  German* 
town,  in  which  the  Americans  and  British  lost 
many  men ;  and  during  that  month  and  November, 
many  more  were  slain  at  forts  Mifflin  and  Mercer, 
on  the  Delaware,  a  little  below  Philadelphia. 
These  events  are  alluded  to  by  the  poet. 

-®  This  phraseology  reminds  us  of  the  following 
passage  in  Milton : 


ti,     !.i 


"  Have  ye  chosen  this  place, 
After  the  toils  of  battle,  to  repose 
Your  wearied  virtue  ;  for  the  ease  ye  find 
To  slumber  here,  as  in  the  vales  of  heaven  ?  " 

8*' See  Note  24,  Canto  II. 

^*  The  Scotch  Highlanders  in  North  Carolina, 
already  mentioned  in  Note  14,  Canto  IV,  were 
generally  Loyalists,  and  at  the  commencement  of 
1776,  they  were  organized,  enrolled,  and  armed  for 
the  royal  cause,  under  Donald  McDonald,  who 
was  commissioned  a  brigadier-general  by  Martin, 
the  royal  governor.  McDonald  set  up  his  stand- 
ard at  Cross  Creek  (now  Fayette ville),  and  pre- 
pared for  conflict.  The  patriot  militia  of  neigh- 
boring districts  under  Carroll,  Moore,  and  Lilling- 
ton,  marched  against  them.  They  met  on  MooreV 
Creek,  in  Hanover  county,  and  on  the  27  th  of 
February,  a  severe  engagement  occurred  there.  A 
great  many  of  the  Scotchmen  were  killed,  many 
were   made   prisoners,  &ud   the   remainder    were 


Notes. 


279 


routed  and  dispersed.  Among  the  prisoners  was 
the  husband  of  Flora  McDonald. 

»•  In  the  autumn  of  1780,  Major  Patrick  Fer- 
guson, an  active  officer  under  Cornwallis,  was  sent 
into  the  mountain  districts  of  South  Carolina,  to 
embody  the  Tories.  Early  in  October,  he  cross- 
ed the  Broad  River  into  the  Yorkville  district, 
with  about  fifteen  hundred  Loyalists,  and  encamp- 
ed on  King's  Mountain.  Several  corps  of  Whig 
militia  were  united  to  oppose  him,  and  attacked  his 
camp  there  on  the  7th  of  October.  It  was  a 
bloody  conflict  ;  Ferguson  was  killed,  and  his 
party  were  totally  defeated,  with  great  loss.  This 
side-engagement  was  as  disastrous  to  Cornwallis, 
then  marching  to  invade  North  Carolina,  as  was 
that  of  Bennington  to  Burgoyne. 

^'  Three  months  after  the  victory  of  the  Ameri- 
cans on  King's  Mountain,  General  Morgan  gained 
another  over  Colonel  Tarleton  at  the  Cowpens,  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  It  was  a  very  brilliant 
affair,  and  still  more  weakened  the  power  of  Corn- 
wallis. Tarleton,  who  was  an  exceedingly  active 
officer,  managed  to  escape,  closely  pursued  by 
Colonel  William  Washington.  These  two  officers 
had  a  personal  engagement  during  the  pursuit,  and 
Tarleton  was  wounded  in  the  hand.  Afterward, 
Tarleton  was  in  the  company  of  a  witty  Whig 
lady  in .  North  Carolina,  and  remarked  in  a  con- 
temptuous manner,  "  I  would  like  to  see  this  Colo- 
nel Washington  of  whom  you  speak  so  much.'* 


!  4 


28o 


Notes. 


I'  p 


•^ 


*  Had  you  looked  behind  you  at  the  battle  of  tlie 
Cowpens,  you  might  have  seen  him,"  retorted  the 
lady.  Having  remarked  to  her  sister,  "  I  under- 
stand this  Colonel  Washington  cannot  write  his 
name,"  glancing  at  Tarleton's  scarred  hand,  the 
lady  instantly  replied,  "  You  will  acknowledge 
that  he  knows  how  to  make  his  marky 

^  General  Greene,  who  succeeded  General  Gates 
in  the  command  of  the  Southern  Army,  was  suc- 
cessful during  the  spring  and  summer  of  1781,  in 
gradually  driving  the  British  toward  the  seaboard. 
Marching  slowly  down  the  Santee,  he  fell  upon 
the  British  at  Eutaw  Springs,  on  the  morning  of 
the  8th  of  September.  A  bloody  battle  ensued, 
in  which  neither  party  gained  an  absolute  victory. 
It  was  disastrous  to  both,  but  especially  so  to  tlie 
British.  Although  they  held  the  field  at  the  end 
of  the  conflict,  they  immediately  abandoned  it,  and 
fled  percipitately  toward  Charleston. 

^^  Fabius  was  a  successful  Roman  general,  and 
the  great  opponent  of  Hannibal.  He  was  remark- 
able for  his  caution.  He  made  many  marches  and 
countermarches,  and  would  never  be  drawn  into 
battle  in  a  disadvantageous  position.  Because  of 
this  system,  which  in  time  always  worked  favor- 
ably, he  was  called  "  the  delayer,"  and  was  much 
censured  by  the  young  and  reckless  officers. 
Washington  pursued  a  similar  course  throughout 
the  war,  and  with  the  same  Luccess;  yet  he  was 
often  censured  for  his  "  Fabian  slowness." 


Notes. 


281 


jT,  was  suc- 


"  An  English  philosophical  writer  of  that  name, 
carried  the  ideal  system  of  Locke  so  far  as  to  douy 
the  existence  of  matter. 

''  This  is  in  allusion  to  the  oft-rcpcatod  asHor- 
tions  in  parliamentary  resolves,  in  speech  os  from 
the  throne  and  the  people,  and  in  proclamations, 
that  Britain  was  omnipotent. 

^  These  two  lines  are  omitted  in  the  rovinod 
editions  of  1820 ;  and  the  last  one  preceding  thorn 
was  altered  so  as  to  read 

"  Absent  from  home,  or  fast  asleep  ?  " 

^^  The  boast  of  British  orators  of  that  day. 

**•  Thus  British  orators  and  writers  alluded  to 
Great  Britain  oftentimes  with  much  display  of 
pompous  declamation. 

**  There  was  an  English  ballad,  very  famous  and 
much  sung  at  that  time,  in  which  Neptune  (styled 
The  Watry  God)  is  made,  with  great  deftironco, 
to  surrender  his  trident  to  King  George,  and  to 
acknowledge  him  as  monarch  and  ruler  of  tho 
ocean.     A  hundred  years  before,  Waller  wrote  ; 

"  They  that  the  whole  world's  monarchy  dosiguM, 
Are  to  their  ports  by  our  bold  fleet  confin'd, 
From  whence  our  red  cross  they  triumphant  soe, 
Eiding  without  a  rival  on  the  sea." 

And  again, 

"  Others  may  use  the  ocean  as  their  road, 
Only  the  English  make  it  their  abode." 


282 


Notes. 


r,.\\ 


1 1 


*'  See  Note  47,  Canto  I.  > 

^  The  Erse  was  the  ancient  language  of  Scot, 
land.     See  Note  5,  Canto  I. 

^  The  old  poets  aver  that  Thetis,  the  mother  of 
Achilles,  desirous  of  making  him  invulnerable, 
plunged  his  whole  body  into  the  river  Styx  (the 
water  that  divides  mortality  from  immortality), 
except  his  heel,  by  which  she  held  him.  Tradition 
asserts  that  he  was  finally  slain  by  an  arrow  which 
penetrated  his  heel.  There  are  various  traditions 
and  myths  concerning  this  celebrated  hero  of  the 
Trojan  War. 

*^  A  kibe  is  a  chap  or  crack  occasioned  by  cold, 
or  an  ulcerated  chilblain,  as  in  the  heels. 

*®  Paris  was  a  son  of  Priam,  king  of  Troy,  and 
was  regarded  as  the  cause  of  the  ruin  of  his  coun- 
try, as  predicted  by  -^sacus,  the  soothsayer,  at 
his  birth.  He  seduced  and  carried  to  Troy,  Helen, 
the  beautiful  wife  of  Menelaus,  king  of  Crete. 
This  outrage  led  to  the  siege  of  Troy,  its  fall,  and 
the  fulfilment  of  the  predictions  of  ^sacus.  Tra- 
dition relates  that  Paris  hurled  the  fatal  arrow 
into  the  heel  of  Achilles. 

*^  Job,  chapter  ii. 

*^  The  poet  here  alludes  to  the  popular  scandal 
concerning  the  intimacy  of  General  William  Howe 
with  the  wife  of  Joshua  Loring,  the  commissary 
of  prisoners,  mentioned  in  Note  91,  Canto  I.  But- 
ler, in  his  HudibraSj  says  in  similar  words : 

^  "  The  sun  had  long  since,  in  the  lap 

Of  Thetis,  taken  out  his  nap." 


Notes. 


283 


*•  On  Sunday  evening,  March  3,  1776,  General 
Thomas,  with  two  thousand  men,  and  proper  en- 
trenching tools,  cattle  and  carts,  went  secretly  to 
Dorchester  Heights  (now  in  South  Boston),  and 
there,  in  the  bright  moonlight,  unobserved  by  the 
British  in  the  city,  they  piled  up  huge  fortifica- 
tions before  the  dawn,  under  the  direction  of 
Bichard  Gridley,  a  veteran  engineer.  At  break 
of  day,  the  breastworks  wore  sufl&ciently  high  to 
afford  ample  protection  to  the  Americans.  Howe, 
overwhelmed  with  astonishment,  exclaimed  when 
he  saw  those  formidable  works,  "  What  shall  I  do  ? 
The  rebels  have  done  more  in  one  night  than  my 
whole  army  would  have  done  in  a  month !  "  They 
had  even  done  more  than  pile  up  the  earth — they 
had  placed  cannons  upon  those  mounds,  and  with 
these  commanded  the  town  and  harbor  of  Boston. 
From  that  moment,  Howe  sought  means  for  es- 
cape, and  finally,  through  the  wisdom  and  leniency 
of  Washington,  he  was  allowed  to  sail  away  for 
Halifax,  unmolested,  and  followed  by  more  than 
three  thousand  Loyalists,  who  dared  not  brave 
the  indignation  of  the  victorious  Patriots. 

^^  The  Titans  are  described  by  the  ancient  poets 
as  giants,  sons  of  the  earth,  who  rebelled  against 
Jupiter,  the  supreme  ruler  of  the  universe.  They 
heaped  mountains  upon  mountains,  in  order  to 
scale  Olympus,  on  whose  apex  was  the  throne  of 
Jupiter.  They  were  driven  back,  discomfited  by 
the  thunders  of  Jove  and  the  arrows  of  Apollo. 


i( 


284 


Notes, 


>'  ' 


%  i  i 


If  i' 


i    I 


I    ' 


l<  i 


'^  Alluding  to  the  hasty  departure  of  the  British 
from  Boston,  when  Howe  perceived  that  he  could 
no  longer  keep  it.  Although  Washington  had 
tacitly  consented,  on  the  application  of  Howe,  to 
allow  him  to  depart  unmolested,  yet  great  terror 
pervaded  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  the  house- 
holds of  the  Tories.  They  all  went  on  board  the 
ships  on  Sunday  morning,  March  17th ;  and  on  the 
same  day  the  deserted  city  was  taken  possession 
of  by  General  Putnam  in  the  name  of  the  TTiir- 
teen  United  Colonies.  -^ 

^'•^  This  is  an  allusion  to  the  cities  of  refuge 
among  the  Jews,  in  which,  if  a  murderer  or  other 
criminal  could  reach  before  arrest,  he  was  safe 
from  punishment.  The  city  of  refuge  here  alluded 
to  was  Halifax,  in  Nova  Scotia,  to  which  the 
British  army  fled. 

**'  This  was  the  victorious  army  of  Burgoyne, 
which,  after  capturing  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  In- 
dependence, gained  a  victory  at  Hubbardton,  and 
destroyed  the  American  stores  at  Skenesborough, 
now  Whitehall,  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain. 
Then,  flushed  with  these  successes,  Burgoyne 
marched  slowly,  but  unimpeded  by  American  arms 
through  the  wilderness  toward  the  Hudson  River. 
The  people  of  that  region  fled  in  terror,  for  they 
dreaded  the  savages  who  accompanied  the  invaders* 

"  The  manner  of  "  hiving  "  bees,  to  which  this 
is  an  allusion,  is  mentioned  in  Note  8,  Canto  I. 

"  The  rape  of  Lucretia,  by  Sextus  Tarquinius, 


Notes. 


285 


is  given  in  the  old  legends  as  the  proximate  cause 
of  the  downfall  of  kingly  power  in  Rome.  The 
tragic  result  of  the  outrage  caused  Brutus  to 
swear,  by  the  pure  blood  which  incarnadined  a 
dagger  with  which  Lucretia  had  stabbed  herself, 
that  he  would  pursue  to  the  uttermost  Tarquiuius 
and  all  his  race,  and  thenceforward  suffer  no  man 
to  be  king  at  Rome.  The  aroused  people  gathered 
together,  and  passed  a  decree  to  the  same  effect, 
and  Tarquin  the  Superb  was  banished.  Such  is 
the  legend,  which  sober  historians  doubt. 

''•  See  Note  20,  Canto  III. 

"  This  has  reference  to  the  death  of  General 
Fraser,  during  the  first  battle  on  Bemis's  Heights. 
Fraser  was  a  gallant  officer,  and  was  mounted  on 
a  splendid  iron-gray  horse.  He  was  dressed  in 
full  uniform,  and  made  a  conspicuous  mark.  Colo- 
nel Daniel  Morgan,  commander  of  the  celebrated 
rifle  corps,  perceived  that  the  fate  of  the  battle  de- 
pended upon  Fraser,  and  he  ordered  his  riflemen 
to  shoot  him.  As  was  afterward  ascertaine'^l.  a 
rifle-ball  first  cut  the  crupper  of  Fraser's  hor  9, 
and  soon  another  passed  through  his  horse's  mane. 
Fraser's  aid  noticed  it  and  said,  "  It  is  evident 
that  you  are  marked  out  for  particular  aim ;  would 
it  not  be  prudent  for  you  to  retire  from  this  place  ?  '* 
Fraser  replied,  '*  My  duty  forbids  me  to  fly  from 
danger ;  "  and  the  next  moment  he  fell,  mortally 
wounded  by  a  ball  from  the  rifle  of  Timothy  Mur- 


ti 


286 


Notes. 

# 


phy,  one  of  Morgan's  men,  who  took  sure  aim  from 
a  small  tree  into  which  he  had  mounted. 

BS  "  Loose  his  beard  and  hoary  hair, 

Streamed  like  a  meteor  to  the  troubled  air." — Gray. 

"  Judges  XV.  15. 

^^  After  Burgoyne  had  surrendered  his  army  at 
Saratoga,  and  the  terms  of  the  capitulation  were 
agreed  upon  and  settled,  the  prisoners,  English 
and  Hessian,  started  under  guard  across  the  coun- 
try to  Cambridge.  They  commenced  the  march 
to  the  tune  of  Yankee  Doodle,  which  they  had  so 
often  heard  in  derision  in  the  British  camp.  The 
pride  of  Burgoyne  was  dreadfully  humbled  by  the 
whole  affair.  He  had  declared  that  he  would  eat 
his  Christmas  dinner  in  Albany,  as  a  victor.  He 
dined  there  sooner  than  Christmas,  but  as  a  pris- 
oner, although  a  guest  at  the  table  of  General 
Schuyler,  whom  he  had  greatly  injured,  by  causing 
his  house,  mills,  and  other  property  at  Saratoga,  to 
be  burned. 

•^  This  allusion  to  Burgoyne's  foppery  is  a  very 
happy  one,  as  the  young  men  of  fashion  who  com- 
posed the  Macaroni  Club  had  very  recently  pro- 
duced a  great  sensation  in  England.  They  were 
young  men  who  had  travelled  in  Italy,  and  had 
returned,  bringing  with  them  all  the  vices  and 
follies  which  they  had  picked  up  there.  They 
formed  their  club  in  London  in  1772,  and  were 
particularly  distinguished  for  their  extravagance 


Notes. 


287 


air." — Gray. 


in  dress.  They  wore  enormous  knots  of  hair  be- 
hind, an  exceedingly  small  cocked  hat,  an  enor- 
mous walking-stick  with  long  tassels,  and  jacket, 
waistcoat,  and  breeches,  cut  very  close.  Soon 
every  thing  that  was  fashionable  was  a  la  Maca- 
roni. Macaroni  articles  everywhere  abounded, 
and  Macaroni  songs  were  set  to  Macaroni  music. 
One  song  closed  with  this  stanza : 

"  Five  pounds  of  hair  they  wear  behind, 

The  ladies  to  delight,  0, 
Their  senses  give  unto  the  wind, 

To  make  themselves  a  fright,  0. 
The  fashion  who  does  e'er  pursue, 

I  think  a  simple-toney ; 
For  he's  a  fool,  say  what  you  will, 

Who  is  a  Macaroni." 

The  word  macaroni  took  the  place  of  heau  and 
frihhle^  which  had  been  given  previously  to  men 
of  fashion. 

***  See  Note  66,  Canto  II.  Bellona  was  the  ac- 
complished goddess  of  war. 

*^  General  Burgoyne  was  a  natural  son  of  Lord 
Bingley,  and  was  not  only  a  successful  soldier,  but 
a  polished  gentleman.  He  was  a  brigadier  in  Por- 
tugal in  1762.  He  was  afterward  a  privy  coun- 
cillor, and  when  he  came  to  America  in  1775,  and 
while  a  prisoner  of  war  in  1777,  he  was  a  member 
of  the  British  Parliament.  His  misfortunes  here 
deprived  him  of  the  sunshine  of  the  royal  counte- 
nance ;  and  in  1780,  after  publishing  his  vindica- 


288 


Notes. 


ml 

mm 


:  ' 


If'' 


p'  f 


4'  ■:;"i 


ill 

I 


tion,  lie  resigned  all  offices  and  their  emoliunent'^, 
and  iu  1781  joined  the  opposition  in  l*uiTuunoMt, 
in  favor  of  the  Americans.  From  tliut  time  unti] 
his  death,  in  August,  170*2,  ho  was  chiefly  etn- 
ployed  in  literary  pursuits,  in  which  he  dt'lightod. 

^  When  setting  out  for  America,  llurgoync 
playfully  remarked  that  he  meant  to  dan(!o  the 
Whig  ladies  to  obedience,  and  their  husbands  would 
Boon  follow  In  this,  as  in  many  other  things,  the 
British  officers  were  disappointed.  IIowo  and 
Clinton,  and  some  of  their  subordinates,  expected 
to  "  crush  the  rebellion  "  in  a  week  almost ;  and 
they  actually  brought  fishing-tackle  with  tliem,  to 
have  some  fine  sport  after  the  smoke  of  gunpowder 
had  cleared  away. 

*^''  Burgoyue's  proclamations,  like  those  of  Gage, 
were  very  pompous.  He  was  fond  of  making 
them,  for  he  always  delighted  in  the  use  of  his 
pen.  While  in  Boston,  during  the  siege,  ho  wrote 
a  farce  called  Boston  Blockaded,  in  which  the  per- 
son designed  to  represent  Washington  enters  with 
uncouth  gait,  wearing  a  large  wig,  a  long,  rusty 
sword,  and  attended  by  a  country  servant  with  a 
rusty  gun.  Other  American  officers  were  simi- 
larly burlesqued.  While  this  farce  was  in  course 
of  performance  in  the  temporary  theatre  in  Bos- 
ton, on  the  night  of  the  8th  of  January,  1776,  a 
sergeant  suddenly  entered  and  exclaimed,  "  The 
Yankees  are  attacking  our  works  on  Bunker's 
^  Hill ! "    The  audience  thought  this  was  part  of 


Notes. 


289 


tlic  play,  and  laughed  immoderately  at  the  idea ; 
but  they  were  soon  undeceived  by  the  burly  voice 
of  Howe  shouting, "  OiHcerH,  to  your  alarm-posts  ' " 
The  people  were  dispersed  in  great  confusion. 
The  fact  was,  that  Majors  Kuowlton,  Carey,  and 
Heiily,  three  gallant  American  officers,  had  crossed 
the  mill-dam  from  Cobble  Hill,  and  had  set  fire 
to  some  houses  in  Charlestown,  at  the  foot  of 
Bunker's  Hill,  occupied  by  some  British  soldiers. 
They  burned  eight  houses,  killed  one  man,  and 
carried  off  five  prisoners. 

'*  Matthew  Prior  wrote  his  Alma,  the  best  of 
his  works,  while  in  confinement  in  the  Tower  of 
London. 

*'  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  wrote  his  famous  History 
of  the  World,  while  confined  in  the  Tower  on  a 
charge  of  treason.  The  first  volume  appeared  in 
1614. 

*•*  John  Wilkes,  already  mentioned  in  Note  88, 
Canto  III,  was  a  fearless  political  writer  during  the 
early  years  of  the  reign  of  George  the  Third,  and 
for  a  long  time  he  was  editor  of  The  North 
Britain.  In  the  45th  number  of  that  paper,  pub- 
lished in  1763,  he  uttered  sentiments  considered 
libellous,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  Tower.  His  ar- 
rest was  proved  to  be  illegal,  and  he  was  released. 
For  several  years,  as  editor,  as  alderman  in  Lon- 
don, and  as  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons, 
he  was  considered  a  very  dangerous  enemy  to  the 

crown.      Wilkes  was   a  licentious,   unprincipled 
13 


(( 


290 


Notes. 


man ;  and  because  he  wrote  an  indecent  Essay  on 
Woman^  he  was  arraigned  before  the  King's 
Bench,  and,  upon  conviction,  was  expelled  from 
Parliament.  He  afterward  obtained  a  verdict 
against  Wood,  the  under-secretarj  of  state,  with 
$5,000  damages,  and  soon  went  to  Paris  He  re- 
turned to  England,  was  elected  to  the  House  of 
Commons  in  1768,  but  was  deprived  of  his  seat. 
He  became  Lord  Mayor  of  London  in  1774,  when 
he  took  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Commons,  and  was 
the  friend  of  the  Americans.  He  was  afterward 
Chamberlain  of  London.  Wilkes  flourished  but  in 
the  midst  of  agitation.  When  out  of  the  troubled 
sea  of  politics,  he  sunk  into  obscurity,  and  died 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  in  1797,  at  the  age  of  70 
years. 

**  General  Prescott  was  twice  made  prisoner, 
during  the  Revolution.  The  first  time  he  was 
captured  at  Montreal  by  Montgomery,  near  the 
close  of  1775 ;  and  the  second  time  he  was  seized 
in  his  rooms,  while  in  command  of  the  British  on 
Rhode  Island,  in  July,  1777,  taken  to  the  Head- 
Quarters  of  the  American  army,  and  afterward 
exchanged  for  General  Charles  Lee,  who  had  been 
captured  in  New  Jersey  in  December  previous. 
Colonel  William  Barton,  with  a  few  men  in  whale- 
boats,  crossed  Narragansett  Bay  in  the  night,  for 
the  purpose  of  seizing  Prescott,  who  was  a  petty  ty- 
rant of  the  meanest  stamp.  He  was  taken  from  his 
bedroom,  conveyed  across  to  Warwick,  and  from 


N  OTES. 


291. 


thence  to  Providence,  and  afterward  to  Head- 
Quarters.  A  full  account  of  the  affair,  with  a 
portrait  of  Barton  and  a  picture  of  the  house  from 
which  Prescott  was  taken,  may  be  found  in  Los- 
sing's  Pictorial  Field  Book  of  the  Bevolution. 

'"  Here  again  is  an  allusion  to  Burgoyne's  farce 
of  The  Siege  of  Boston.  The  Maid  of  the  Oaks 
was  another  farce  from  his  pen,  which  was  much 
thought  of,  and  was  often  performed  in  the 
English  theatres.  He  also  wrote  a  comedy  en- 
titled The  Heiress,  which  had  great  reputation. 
Some  critics  have  pronounced  it  one  of  the  best 
productions  of  the  modern  British  drama. 

"  This  refers  to  the  cruelties  toward  prisoners, 
charged  to  Joshua  Loring,  the  commissary.  If 
the  stories  related  of  his  inhumanity  to  those  who 
fell  into  his  hands  were  true,  he  was  even  worse 
than  the  detested  Cunningham,  the  keeper  of  the 
Provost  prison  in  New  York.  The  Vampyre  was 
a  creation  of  superstition,  a  belief  in  which  pre- 
vailed extensively  among  many  nations  in  Europe. 
It  was  pretended  to  be  a  dead  body,  which  arose 
from  the  grave  at  night,  and  sucked  the  blood  of 
the  living. 


7S 


"  a  place 
Before  his  eyes  appeared,  sad,  noisome,  dark, 

A  Lazar-house  it  seemed Despair 

Tended  the  sick,  busiest  from  couch  to  couch, 
And  over  them  triumphant  Death  his  dart 
Shook,  but  delayed  to  strike." 

Milton^s  Paradise  Lost,  Cook  XI. 


Mir'i 


292 


Notes. 


^  Mill 


)  I 


f  •  i 


'*  Murder  was  thus  spelled  in  former  times. 
'  '*  Sir  Guy  Carleton  was  a  very  humane  man. 
After  the  unfortunate  attack  of  the  Americans  on 
Quebec,  at  the  close  of  1775,  he  treated  the 
"  rebel "  prisoners  with  great  humanity,  and  final- 
ly paroled  them. 

"  It  has  been  asserted,  and  not  denied,  that 
after  the  battle  near  Brooklyn,  on  Long  Island, 
Howe  and  Clinton  both  allowed  their  troops,  and 
especially  the  Hessians,  to  tie  up  American  prison- 
ers and  use  them  for  marks  to  fire  at.  The  excuse 
was  that  such  treatment  would  keep  the  people 
from  joining  the  rebel  army,  and  thus  the  rebel- 
lion would  be  sooner  ended  !  " 

'^  Among  other  measures  to  distress  the  people, 
great  pains  were  taken  by  the  British  in  New 
York,  to  communicate  the  small-pox  throughout 
the  country,  and  especially  to  the  American  army. 
At  that  time  Jenner  had  just  announced,  in  Eng- 
land, his  great  discovery  of  vaccination^  but  it  was 
not  practised  in  America  until  about  the  close  of 
the  Revolution.  Inoculation  was  resorted  to ;  and 
while  the  army  lay  in  the  Highlands  in  1781  the 
soldiers  were  inoculated  by  companies. 

"  After  the  battles  on  Long  Island  and  Fort 
Washington,  where  a  great  many  Americans  were 
made  prisoners,  the  places  of  confinement  on  ship- 
board and  in  New  York  were  crowded  with  the 
captives.  Impure  air  and  food  soon  caused  a 
terrible  mortality  among  them.      They  died  by 


Notes. 


293 


;imea. 
anc  man. 
3ricans  on 
eated   the 
and  fiual- 

nied,  that 
ig  Island, 
roops,  and 
jan  prison- 
?he  excuse 
the  people 
the  rebel- 

bhe  people, 
h  in  New 
hroughout 
lean  army. 

,  in  Eng- 
but  it  was 
e  close  of 
sd  to ;  and 

1781  the 

I  and  Fort 
icans  were 
nt  on  ship- 
l  with  the 
caused  a 
y  died  by 


scores,  and  the  disease  known  as  the  prison-fever, 
similar  to  that  of  the  ship-fever  of  our  day,  be 
came  apparently  contagious.  The  British  endea- 
vored to  infect  the  American  camp  with  the  dis- 
ease. A  multitude  of  Americans  perished  on  board 
the  old  Jersey  and  other  prison-ships  in  the  har- 
bor of  New  York,  and  in  the  old  sugar-houses  in 
the  city,  which,  being  strong  and  large,  were  con- 
verted into  jails. 

'^  Judges,  Chapter  iv. 

'^  Funic  was  the  ancient  language  of  the  Car- 
thaginians ;  and  the  contests  in  which  the  Romans 
and  that  people  were  involved,  during  more  than 
three  centuries,  were  called  Punic  Wars.  The 
Carthaginians  were  so  notoriously  treacherous,  and 
unfaithful,  that  the  Romans  made  the  expression 
Punica  Fides — Punic  Faith — synonymous  with 
unfaithfulness  to  promises. 

^^  Ammon  or  Hammon  was  the  name  given  to 
Jupiter,  as  worshipped  in  Libya,  in  Africa.  He 
is  represented  with  the  head  and  horns  of  a  ram, 
because  a  legend  asserts  that  when  the  army  under 
Bacchus  was  in  Africa,  and  about  to  perish  for 
want  of  water,  a  ram  appeared  and  guided  them 
to  an  oasis  where  it  was  found  in  abundance. 
Bacchus  erected  a  temple  to  Jupiter  on  the  spot, 
and  gave  the  impersonation  of  the  deity  the  form 
above  mentioned.  The  poet  thought  Loriiig  a  fit 
priest,  because  (again  alluding  to  the  unfaithfulness 
of  the  commissary's  wife)  the  Libyan  Ammon 
wore  horns. 


it 


294 


Notes. 


*"  Bel  or  Baal  was  an  ancient  Chaldean  idol, 
mentioned  by  both  Isaiah  and  Jeremiah.  Baal  is 
also  mentioned  in  the  Book  of  Numbers,  Judges, 
and  Kings.  It  is  said  to  have  devoured  enormous 
quantities  of  food  daily,  which  the  people  supplied, 
and  which,  of  course,  the  priests  and  their  friends 
consumed. 

^*  Moloch  was  the  chief  idol  of  the  Ammonites, 
in  Canaan,  and  is  mentioned  in  the  eleventh  chap- 
ter of  1  Kings.  The  idol  was  made  of  brass, 
seated  on  a  throne  of  the  same  metal,  with  the 
head  of  a  calf,  and  a  crown  on  it.  Parents  often 
sacrificed  their  children  to  this  divinity.  It  was 
heated  by  fire  beneath,  and  when  the  children 
were  put  into  its  hot  brazen  arms,  they  rolled  into 
the  idol  and  were  consumed.  Bullocks  and  other 
animals  were  also  offered  to  Moloch  in  sacrifice. 

®^  See  Rabelais's  history  of  the  Giant  Oar- 
gantua. 

^  Jonah,  Chapter  i. 

^^  Genesis,  Chapter  xli. 

*"  This  sentence  refers  to  the  alleged  cruelties 
of  Lord  Clive  (who  was  governor  first  of  Fort  St. 
David,  and  then  of  Bengal  in  the  East  Indies) 
toward  the  native  inhabitants,  whom,  as  military 
commander,  he  conquered.  By  his  exploits  he 
gained  the  title  of  Omrah  of  the  Mogul  Empire, 
an  Irish  peerage  and  immense  wealth.  He  re 
tired  to  P]ngland  in  1767,  and  in  November,  1773, 
he  committed  suicide  by  cutting  his  throat.     The 


Notes. 


m 


lean  idol, 
.  Baal  is 
s,  Judges, 
enormous 
)  supplied, 
iir  friends 

tnmonites, 
enth  chap- 
of  brass, 
,  with  the 
ents  often 
^  It  was 
J  children 
rolled  into 
and  other 
laerifice. 
ant   Gar- 


cruelties 

Fort  St. 

Indies) 

3  military 

ploits  he 

Empire, 

He  re 

)er,  1773, 

►at.     The 


"  Black  Hole  "  referred  to,  was  a  Jungeon  m  Cal- 
cutta, where,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1756,  tho  Na- 
bob or  chief  man  confined  one  hundred  and  forty- 
six  British  gentlemen — merchants  and  others  in 
the  service  of  the  East  India  Company,  in  a  room 
only  eighteen  feet  square.  The  heat,  crushing, 
and  stench  of  the  dungeon,  caused  the  death  of 
one  hundred  and  twenty-three  of  the  prisoners  bo- 
fore  morning.  It  was  the  Provost  prison  (now 
Hall  of  Records)  in  New  York,  and  especially  tho 
sugar  house  in  Liberty  street,  and  the  Jorioy 
prison  ship,  which  the  poet  here  alludes  to  in  the 
comparison. 

"  The  various  districts  of  the  East  Indies  woro 
governed  by  wealthy  subordinate  rulers  called 
Nabobs.  It  has  become  a  term  significant  of  a 
very  wealthy  man. 

^'  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  Lord  Clive  con- 
ceived himself  haunted  by  the  ghosts  of  those  per- 
sons in  the  East,  who  were  the  victims  of  his  inhu- 
manity. Notwithstanding  the  alleged  cruelties 
of  Clive  were  not  doubted  by  the  British  nation, 
the  then  corrupt  Parliament,  before  whom  he  was 
accused,  awarded  him  a  vote  of  thanks  for  his  ser- 
vices in  the  East  Indies.     But 

"Conscience  makes  cowards  of  us  all." 


89 


These  three  commanders  were  famous  during 
portions*  of  the  war,  for  their  marauding  servioos. 
Judges,  Chapter  xv. 


90 


^m.m 


§ 


m 


296 


Notes, 


**  "We  have  already  referred  to  the  ravages  of 
Tryon  and  others  on  the  New  England  coasts, 
and  to  the  operations  of  Lord  Dunmore  in  Virginia. 
In  South  Carolina,  likewise,  many  negroes  were 
taken  from  the  plantations,  by  marauding  parties, 
and  those  who  did  not  perish  were  sent  to  the 
West  Indies  and  sold.  And  every  where,  espe- 
cially during  the  earlier  years  of  the  war,  before 
the  opportunities  which  the  Americans  obtained 
for  retaliation  had  taught  the  British  and  Hessian 
troops  circumspection,  they  committed  the  most 
outrageous  crimes. 

®^  The  King  and  Parliament  were  both  long  de- 
ceived by  the  reports  of  expected  aids  from  the 
Tories  sent  over  by  the  military  commanders  here. 
Indeed,  it  was  believed  by  the  ministry,  even  as 
late  as  the  time  of  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  that 
the  whig  party  was  a  very  small  one,  and  that  the 
great  body  of  the  people  of  the  colonies  were  loyal, 
when  fear  of  the  violent  patriots  would  allow  them 
to  be  so.     The  fact  was  the  reverse  of  this. 

^'^  In  February,  1778,  Lord  North  proposed  in 
parliament,  a  conciliatory  plan,  which,  he  thought, 
would  end  all  difficulties  with  the  colonies.  He 
proposed  to  repeal  all  obnoxious  acts  of  parlia- 
ment, if  the  Americans  would  rescind  their  Dec- 
laration of  Independence,  and  return  to  the  loyalty 
of  loving  colonists.  The  proposition  was  in  the 
form  of  two  bills.  These  bills  arrived  in  America 
about  the  middle  of  April.     Thef  were  looked 


•avages  of 
id  coasts, 
I  Virginia. 
;roes  were 
ag  parties, 
Jilt  to  the 
lere,  espe- 
ar,  before 
3  obtained 
d  Hessian 
the  most 

ih  long  de- 
3  from  the 
iders  here. 
jr,  even  as 
oyne,  that 
d  that  the 
vere  loyal, 
lIIow  them 
lis. 

•oposed  in 
e  thought, 
[lies.  He 
of  parlia- 
leir  Dec- 
16  loyalty 
rsLS  in  tlie 
America 
•e  looked 


Notes. 


297 


upon  with  suspicion,  and  were  called  "  deception- 
ary  bills."  Congress  refused  to  accede  to  the 
terms  oflFered  in  these  bills,  because  the  independ- 
ence of  the  colonies  was  not  guarantied.  Com- 
missioners to  negotiate  with  Congress,  in  accord- 
ance with  North's  proposition,  arrived  in  June. 
They  were  the  Earl  of  Carlisle,  George  Johnstone, 
formerly  governor  of  "West  Florida,  and  William 
Eden,  a  brother  of  the  then  late  governor  of  Mary- 
land. They  were  accompanied  by  the  eminent 
Adam  Ferguson,  as  secretary.  The  proceedings 
of  Congress,  before  the  arrival  of  the  Commis- 
sioners, had  barred  the  door  effectually  to  all 
negotiations,  and  they  found  their  "  occupation 


gone 

94 


J) 


"  medicatam   frugibus   offam."     See 

an  account  of  the  descent  of  uEneas  into  hell,  in 
Virgil's  ^neid,  Book  vi. 

^^  When  the  commissioners  found  they  could  do 
nothing  officially,  Johnstone  determined  to  try  the 
power  of  money  and  place,  by  offering  such  bribes 
to  public  men.  Because  of  his  notoriously  cor- 
rupt conduct,  the  Congress  declared  that  uo  inter- 
course should  be  had  with  him.  Yet  he  persisted, 
flattering  some  and  boldly  approaching  others  with 
promises  of  royal  favor. 

06  rjijjg  <(  petticoated  politician  "  here  alluded  to, 

was  an  American  lady,  daughter  of  Dr.  Thomas 

Graeme  of  Pennsylvania,  and  then  the  wife  of 

Hugh  FergtH^n,  a  relation  of  the  secretary  of  the 

13* 


(/ 


298 


Notes. 


i 


commissioner.  Her  husband  being  in  the  British 
service,  she  was  much  in  the  company  of  Loyalists. 
Being  a  woman  of  superior  attainments,  and  ac- 
quainted with  many  leading  men  in  Congress, 
Johnstone  succeeded  in  making  her  an  unconscious 
instrument  of  his  corrupt  eflForts.  He  first  spoke  to 
her  warmly  in  favor  of  American  interests,  and  she 
believed  him  to  be  a  true  friend  of  her  country. 
He  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  stop  the  e£fusion 
of  blood,  and  intimated  that,  if  a  proper  representa- 
tion could  be  made  to  leading  men  in  Congress,  a  re- 
conciliation might  yet  be  eflfected.  Her  womanly 
sympathies  were  aroused,  and  Johnstone,  who  was 
not  permitted  to  go  within  the  Amerioar  lines, 
desired  Mrs.  Ferguson  to  say  to  General  Joseph 
Heed  that,  provided  he  could,  conformably  to  his 
conscience  and  views  of  things,  exert  his  influence 
to  settle  the  dispute,  he  might  command  ten  thou- 
sand guineas  and  the  best  post  in  government. 
Mrs.  Ferguson  suggested  that  such  a  proposition 
would  be  considered  as  a  bribe  by  General  Keed. 
Johnstone  disclaimed  the  idea ;  and,  convinced  of 
his  sincerity  and  good  will,  she  sought  an  inter- 
view with  General  Reed,  three  days  after  the 
British  evacuated  Philadelphia,  and  laid  the  pro- 
position before  him.  Reed  afterward  declared, 
that  he  at  once  exclaimed,  "  My  influence  is  but 
small,  but  were  it  as  great  as  Governor  Johnstone 
would  insinuate,  the  King  of  Great  Britain  has 
nothing  within  his  gift  that  woul§Hempt  me." 


N  0TE8. 


299 


le  Britisli 
Loyalists. 
,  and  ac- 
Congress, 
iconscioua 
,t  spoke  to 
s,  and  she 
L'  country, 
le  effusion 
epresenta- 
rress,  a  re- 
'  womanly 
,  who  was 
oar   lines, 
al  Joseph 
hly  to  his 
J  influence 
ten  thou- 
vemment. 
roposition 
ral  Reed, 
ivinced  of 
an  inter- 
after   the 
1  the  pro- 
declared, 
ce  is  but 
iohnstone 
itain  has 
npt  me." 


This  attempt  at  bribery  was  soon  made  known 
to  the  public.  The  alleged  reply  of  General  Reed 
went  from  lip  to  lip ;  the  commissioners  were  every 
where  denounced,  and  poor  Mrs.  Ferguson,  the 
innocent  dupe  of  a  corrupt  hireling,  was  accused  of 
being  a  British  emissary.  She  outlived  all  sus- 
picions, however. 

*"  Benedict  Arnold's  services  against  his  gov- 
ernment were  actually  purchased  for  ten  thousand 
guineas  and  the  commission  of  a  brigadier  in  the 
British  army.  This  was  the  stipulated  considera- 
tion for  the  betrayal  of  the  strong  fortress  at 
West  Point  and  its  dependencies,  into  the  hands 
of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  in  September,  1780.  He 
failed  in  his  wicked  purpose,  escaped  to  the  enemy, 
received  his  reward,  and  performed  eminent  ma- 
rauding services  for  his  royal  master,  during  the 
remainder  of  the  war.  Arnold  had  been  a  brave, 
skilful,  and  exceedingly  useful  officer  before  his 
fall. 

^^  It  was  very  fortunate  for  the  Americans,  that 
inefficient  men  like  the  brothers  Howe  commanded 
the  British  land  and  naval  forces  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Revolution.  General  Howe,  in  par- 
ticular, always  moved  slowly,  and  when  he  had 
gained  a  victory,  he  almost  always  lost  the  advan- 
tages of  it  by  supineness.  Such  was  the  case  after 
his  victory  near  Brooklyn.  The  really  captive 
army  of  Washington  within  the  American  lines, 
escaped  to  New  York,  while  Howe  was  sleeping ; 


i< 


300 


Notes. 


* .'' ' 


m 


and  yet,  for  his  victory  on  that  occasion,  he  was 
knighted  and  became  Sir  William  Howe.  He  re- 
mained in  Philadelphia  after  he  had  captured  it 
in  the  autumn  of  1777,  for  many  months,  with  a 
well-provisioned  and  well-furnished  army,  while 
the  half-starved,  half-clad,  and  feeble  force  of  the 
Americans  were  shivering  and  famishing  at  Valley 
Forge,  only  twenty  miles  distant.  Yet  he  made 
no  attempt  at  what  might  have  been  an  easy  cap- 
ture of  the  whole.  His  idle  army  in  the  city  be- 
came greatly  weakened  by  inactivity  and  dissipa- 
tion. Dr.  Franklin  justly  observed,  "  Howe  has 
not  taken  Philadelphia;  Philadelphia  has  taken 
Howe."  The  acute  Colonel  Hamilton,  young  as 
he  was,  said  to  General  Washington,  when  that 
officer  was  regretting  his  failure  in  capturing 
Howe, — "  For  my  part  I  am  glad  of  it,  for  Great 
Britain  might  have  sent  a  more  active  man  in  his 
place." 

^^  The  Continental  Congress  held  its  session  at 
York,  Pennsylvania,  while  the  British  held  posses- 
sion of  Philadelphia  during  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1778.  In  May,  after  being  honored  by  a  re- 
markable fete  called  Mischianza,  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  which  the  unfortunate  Major  Andre  was 
the  principal  actor,  General  Howe  resigned  the 
command  of  the  army  to  Sir  Henry  Clinton  and 
returned  to  England.  He  was  severely  censured 
by  Burgoyne  and  other  military  men,  and  some 
spicy    correspondence,   statements,    &c.,   ensued. 


Notes. 


301 


in,  he  was 
I.  He  re- 
apturcd  it 
ihs,  with  a 


my, 


while 


irce  of  the 
at  Valley 
I;  he  made 
easy  cap- 
tie  city  he- 
ld dissipa- 
Howe  has 
has  taken 
,  young  as 
when  that 
capturing 
for  Great 
man  in  his 

session  at 
eld  posses- 
and  spring 
i  hy  a  re- 
e  prepara- 
A.ndre  was 
signed  the 
linton  and 
y  censured 

and  some 
J.,   ensued. 


Howe  was  a  good-natured,  full-fed,  heavy,  indolent 
man — "  the  most  indolent  of  mortals,"  according 
to  General  Charles  Lee,  who  averred  that  he 
"  never  took  pains  to  examine  the  merits  or  de- 
merits of  the  cause  in  which  he  was  engaged." 
Howe  published  a  narrative  of  his  campaigns  in 
America,  the  style  of  which  partakes  largely  of 
the  sluggishness  of  his  character.  He  died 
in  1814. 

^^  This  was  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  He  was  grand- 
son of  Francis,  sixth  Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  was 
Knight  of  the  Bath.  He  came  to  America  just 
before  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  and  remained 
until  near  the  close  of  the  war.  Clinton  was  quite 
an  active  officer,  yet  not  a  very  skilful  one.  Soon 
after  his  return  home,  he  published  a  narrative  of 
his  campaigns  in  1781-83,  which  Lord  Cornwallis, 
another  of  the  British  commanders  here,  thought 
it  necessary  to  answer.  To  this  Clinton  made  a 
reply.  Clinton  was  Governor  of  Gibraltar  in 
1795,  and  the  same  year  he  was  elected  a  member 
of  parliament.     He  died  the  following  year. 

"'  Soon  after  taking  command  of  the  British 
army  in  America,  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was  in- 
formed that  a  powerful  French  fleet,  under  the 
Count  D'Estaing,  was  on  its  way,  and  would  prob- 
ably block  up  and  perhaps  capture  the  British  ves- 
sels in  the  Delaware  under  the  command  of  Earl 
Howe,  and  thus  secure  New  York.  He  immedi- 
ately resolved  to  evacuate  Philadelphia  and  the 


M 


.' 


.u 


li 


fll  1 


30» 


Notes. 


Delaware,  and  hasten  with  army  and  fleet  to  Now 
York.  With  eleven  thousand  n»en  and  an  Im- 
mense baggage  and  provision  train  he  started  for 
New  York,  by  way  of  New  Brunswick.  Wash- 
ington, at  Valley  Forgo,  was  on  the  alert,  and 
commenced  a  pursuit  of  Clinton  with  a  more  than 
equal  force.  By  the  adroit  movement  of  detach- 
ments, he  compelled  Clinton  to  change  his  courso 
in  the  direction  of  Sandy  Hook. 

'"*  Clinton  was  sore  pressed  by  his  pursuers,  and 
the  New  Jersey  militia  greatly  annoyed  him  on 
the  flanks.  Finally  he  was  obliged  to  halt  at 
Monmouth  Court-House,  (now  Freehold,  New 
Jersey,)  change  front,  and  engage  in  a  general 
battle  with  the  Americans.  The  engagement  com- 
menced quite  early  on  Sunday  morning,  the  *28th 
day  of  June,  1778.  It  was  one  of  the  hottest  days 
ever  experienced  in  that  latitude.  All  day  the 
conflict  raged,  and  night  only  put  an  end  to  it. 
Both  parties  slept  on  their  arms,  the  Americans, 
under  Washington,  intending  to  renew  the  battle 
in  the  morning.  Clinton  chose  rather  to  avoid  that 
necessity,  and  at  midnight  he  silently  resumed  his 
march,  undiscovered  by  the  wearied  and  sleeping 
Americans. 

^^^  In  his  official  dispatch  to  Lord  George  Ger- 
main, Clinton  wrote :  "  Having  reposed  the  troops 
until  ten  at  night,  to  avoid  the  excessive  heat  of 
the  day,  I  took  advantage  of  the  moonlight  to  re- 
join General  Knyphausen,  [the  commander  of  the 


Notes, 


303 


ot  to  Noy^ 
lid  an  im- 
Btiirtud  for 
k.  WubU- 
alort,  and 
luoro  than 
of  dotach- 
his  courso 

irsucrs,  and 
ed  him  on 
to  halt  at 
hold,   New 

a  general 
cniO!it  com- 
g,  the  28th 
iOttost  days 
lU  day  the 

end  to  it. 
Americans, 

the  battle 
)  avoid  that 
usumed  his 
id  sleeping 

eorgo  Gcr- 

the  troops 

vo  heat  of 

light  to  re- 

idor  of  the 


Hessians,]  who  had  advanced  to  Nut  Swamp,  near 
Middletown."  This  dispaft'h  caused  a  great  deal 
of  merriment  in  Amorioa,  for  it  was  known  that 
the  event  took  place  at  about  the  timo  of  new 
moon.  Poor  WilVs  Almanac,  printed  by  Joseph 
Oruikshank,  in  Philadelphia,  indicates  the  occur- 
rence of  new  moon,  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  be- 
ing four  days  old  on  the  night  of  the  battle,  it  set 
at  fifty-five  minutes  past  ten.  Clinton  had  waited 
for  its  setting  in  order  to 

"  Steal  ofif  on  tiptoe  in  the  dark.** 

^^  In  his  retreat,  Clinton  placed  Knyphausen 
and  his  Germans  in  the  rear.  In  fact  during  the 
whole  time  of  service  of  the  German  troops  in 
America,  they  were  always  used  as  shields  to  the 
British,  and  were  made  to  perform  those  services 
in  which  honorable  soldiers  would  not  willingly 
consent  to  be  engaged. 

'*•''  The  poet's  allusion  here,  to  the  remarkable 
event  recorded  in  the  tenth  chapter  of  the  Book 
of  Joshua,  is  very  pertinent,  and  is  elucidated  by 
note  103. 

106  ^pijjg  referg  to  the  treaty  of  friendship  and 
alliance,  formed  between  the  struggling  colonies 
and  France,  on  the  6th  of  February,  1778.  The 
Bourbon  king  of  France  had  been  secretly  aiding 
the  revolted  colonies,  by  supplies  of  arms,  ammu- 
nition, and  money,  ever  since  1776,  but  unwilling 
to  have  an  untimely  rupture  with  Great  Britain, 


(( 


I 


i' : 


304 


Notes. 


;    I 


m  \ 


'^t^ 


lm^^';^  t 


'^::fe^     i, 


all  the  transactions  were  so  conducted  as  to  have 
a  commercial  aspect  in  private  hands.  But  when 
the  success  of  the  Americans  appeared  certain 
after  they  had,  unaided,  captured  the  powerful 
army  of  Burgoyne,  the  French  king  saw  that  he 
might  then  inflict  a  severe  blow  upon  bia  old  enemy, 
England,  by  acknowledging  the  independence  of 
the  colonies,  and  by  forming  an  alliance  with  them. 
That  measure  was  soon  accomplished,  and  the  in- 
telligence that,  en  account  of  that  alliance,  France 
had  sent  a  powerful  fleet  to  America,  caused,  as 
we  have  seen  (note  101),  the  evacuation  of  Phila- 
delphia and  the  Delaware  by  the  British  land  and 
naval  forces. 

^°^  Pursuant  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty  of  al- 
liance with  France,  the  Count  D'Estaing  sailed 
from  Toulon  with  a  powerful  fleet  in  April,  1778, 
and  arrived  off  the  Capes  of  the  Delaware  in  July 
following.  The  British  fleet  had  escaped  to  the 
safe  anchorage  within  Sandy  Hook,  where  the  heavy 
French  vessels  could  not  reach  them.  After  block- 
adiug  Howe's  fleet  there  for  a  short  time,  D'Estaing 
sailed  eastward,  to  aid  the  Americans  in  rescuing 
Rhode  Island  from  the  British.  Off  Newport,  in 
August,  D'Estaing  and  a  fleet  under  Howe,  which 
had  followed  him  from  New  York,  attempted  to 
fight,  but  a  terrible  gale  dispersed  both  fleets,  and 
damaged  them  badly. 

'''  In  1779,  D'Estaing  was  sent  to  the  West 
Indies  with  a  powerful  fleet,  captured  St.  Vincent 


Notes. 


305 


as  to  have 
But  when 
ed  certain 
e  powerful 
aw  that  he 
old  enemy, 
endence  of 
I  with  them, 
and  the  in- 
,nce,  France 
I,  caused,  as 
m  of  Phila- 
sh  land  and 

reaty  of  al- 
taing  sailed 
A.pril,  1778, 
jv^are  in  July 
saped  to  the 
3re  the  heavy ' 
After  block- 
e,  D'Estaing 
!  in  rescuing 
Newport,  in 
lowe,  which 
attempted  to 
,li  fleets,  and 

;o  the  West 
St.  Vincent 


and  Grenada  from  the  English,  defeated  Admiral 
Biron  in  a  naval  engagement,  and  made  prizes  of 
a  British  sliip-of-the-line,  and  several  frigates,  on 
the  southern  coast  of  the  United  States.  He  also 
assisted  in  the  siege  of  Savannah,  in  the  autumn 
of  that  year ;  but,  pretending  to  fear  the  eifect  of 
the  autumn  storms  upon  his  fleet,  he  abandoned 
the  siege  when  victory  was  almost  in  the  grasp  of 
the  allies,  and  went  to  sea. 

'°^  Charles  Henry,  Count  D'Estaing,  was  a  na- 
tive of  Auvergne,  France.  He  was  a  famous  sol- 
dier in  the  French  service  in  the  East  Indies  in 
1756,  was  made  prisoner  by  the  English,  broke 
his  parole  and  escaped.  He  commanded  an  ex- 
pedition against  Grenada.  He  became  a  member 
of  the  Assembly  of  Notables  in  the  French  Revo- 
lution, and,  being  suspected  of  unfriendliness 
toward  the  Terrorists,  he  was  guillotined  in 
April,  1793. 

"•^  Francis  Joseph  Paul,  Count  Be  Grasse,  was 
a  native  of  France,  and  born  in  1723.  He  was  an 
active  naval  officer  in  the  West  Indies,  before 
coming  upon  the  American  coast,  and  afterward 
performed  signal  service  in  assisting  in  the  cap- 
ture of  Cornwallis  and  his  army  at  Yorktown  in 
October,  1781.  He  formed  an  alliance  with  an 
unworthy  woman  after  his  return  to  France,  whose 
conduct  embittered  his  life.  He  died  early  in 
1788,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years. 

^"  The  life  and  services  of  the  Marquis  De  La 


II 
(I 


m 


f.\ 


f   ,( 


1,.  ,'< 


'U 


i-'  h 


% 


i 


306 


Notes. 


Fayette,  are  too  well  known  to  every  American 
reader,  to  need  any  special  notice  here. 

"'^  General  Lincoln  was  second  in  command  of 
the  army  under  Gates,  at  the  capture  of  Burgojme. 
He  was  appointed  to  succeed  General  Robert 
Howe  in  command  of  the  southern  army,  in 
1779;  and  in  the  spring  of  1780,  having  been 
ordered  by  Congress  to  defend  Charleston,  the 
capital  of  South  Carolina,  at  all  hazards,  he 
collected  what  force  he  could  there,  and  sustained 
a  siege,  conducted  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  Lord 
Cornwallis,  and  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  for  several 
weeks.  He  was  at  length  compelled  to  yield,  and 
on  the  12th  of  May  surrendered  his  army  and  the 
city  to  the  victorious  enemy. 

"^  After  the  capture  of  Charleston,  the  British 
officers  displayed  an  activity  hitherto  unknown  to 
them,  and  Clinton  left  Cornwallis  to  take  energetic 
measures  for  a  complete  subjugation  of  the  whole 
South.  Cornwallis  himself  marched  up  the  Santee 
toward  Camden ;  another  detachment  under  Colo- 
nel Cruger  took  possession  of  Fort  Ninety-six  in  the 
south-western  part  of  South  Carolina,  and  another, 
under  Lieutenant-colonel  Brown,  who,  like  Cruger, 
was  an  American  Loyalist,  took  possession  of 
Augusta,  in  Georgia.  For  a  while,  these  two 
States  were  completely  crushed  beneath  the  heel 
of  British  power. 

"^  This  refers  to  the  partisan  corps  under  Sum- 
ter,   Morgan,  Marion,  Pickens,    Clark,  Buford, 


Notes. 


30: 


American 

immand  of 
Burgoyne. 
al   Robert 
army,   in 
.ving  been 
leston,  the 
azards,  he 
I  sustained 
nton,  Lord 
for  several 
1  yield,  and 
my  and  the 

the  British 
anknown  to 
le  energetic 
the  whole 
the  Santee 
nder  Colo- 
y-six  in  the 
,nd  another, 
[ike  Cruger, 
ssession  of 
these  two 
ith  the  heel 

[nder  Sum- 
Ik,  Buford, 


and  other  bold  leaders,  but  especially  to  the  van- 
quished army  of  Gates  mentioned  in  the  next 
note. 

"^  General  Gates  was  sent  to  the  South  after 
the  fall  of  Charleston,  to  rally  the  patriots  and 
reclaim  Georgia  and  South  Carolina.  He  went 
with  proud  confidence  of  success,  and  in  a  night 
and  early  morning  engagement  with  CornwalUs, 
near  Camden,  he  was  signally  defeated,  his  whole 
army  was  dispersed,  and  he  was  compelled  to  be- 
come a  flying  fugitive  with  only  a  handful  of  at- 
tendants. General  Charles  Lee,  (then  in  disgrace 
because  of  bad  conduct  at  Monmouth,)  who  knew 
Gates  well,  said  to  him,  on  his  departure,  "  Take 
care  that  you  do  not  exchange  your  Northern 
laurels  for  Southern  willows."  To  this  the  poet 
alludes. 

"*  After  the  defeat  of  Gates,  Cornwallis  pressed 
forward  into  North  Carolina,  took  post  at  Hills- 
borough, and  really  held  military  sway,  even  to  the 
borders  of  Virginia,  which,  also,  he  included  in 
his  programme  of  conquest. 

^"  This  is  in  allusion  to  Arnold's  marauding  ex- 
peditions in  Virginia.  He  sent  off  several  cargoes 
of  negroes  and  tobacco  (the  fruits  of  his  plunder) 
to  the  West  Indies,  and  sold  them  for  his  own 
profit. 

"^  Admiral  Lord  Rodney,  having  been  unsuc- 
cessful in  attempting  to  recapture  St.  Vincent 
from  the  French,  in  1781,  sailed  for  the  Dutch 


iriu 


308 


Notes. 


i  I ;, 


Wi 


island  of  St.  Eustatius,  where  there  was  an  im- 
mense amount  of  goods,  belonging  to  people  of 
several  nations,  neutrals  as  well  as  belligerents, 
because  it  was  a  free  island.  The  Governor  had 
not  heard  of  the  commencement  of  hostilities  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  Holland,  and  being  un- 
prepared, made  no  defence.  The  value  of  the 
capture  was  immense.  Two  hundred  and  fifty- 
vessels,  some  with  rich  cargoes,  were  taken,  and 
goods  valued  at  three  millions  of  pounds  sterling 
were  seized.  This,  capture  of  property  belonging 
to  subjects  of  neutral  nations,  and  the  general 
seizure  and  sale  of  private  as  well  as  public  pro- 
perty for  the  benefit  of  the  captors,  was  truly  an 
insult  to  the  laws  of  nations. 

"^  In  allusion  to  Tryon's  marauding  expeditions 
already  referred  to. 

^■^^  After  the  defeat  of  Gates  near  Camden,  in 
August,  1780,  General  Nathaniel  Greene  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  Southern  army. 
He  soon  gathered  a  considerable  force,  took  post 
at  Cheraw  on  the  east,  and  on  the  Broad  Biver  on 
the  west,  and  prepared  to  reclaim  the  Carolioas. 
He  was,  however,  compelled  to  flee  before  Corn- 
"wallis  to  Virginia,  early  in  1781.  Greene  re- 
mained in  Virginia  only  long  enough  to  refresh 
his  troops  and  receive  recruits,  when  he  again 
entered  North  Carolina.  The  decit^ive  battle  at 
Guilford  Court-House,  in  which  Curnwallis  was 
victor,  so  far  as  maintaining  the  field  was  con- 


Notes, 


309 


as  an  un- 
people of 
jUigerents, 
^ernor  liad 
3tilities  be- 
,  being  un- 
lue   of  the 
i  and  fifty 
taken,  and 
ids  sterling 
y  belonging 
the  general 
public  pro- 
ms truly  an 

expeditions 

Camden,  in 
iene  was  ap- 
thern  army. 
•e,  took  post 
ad  River  on 
lg  Carolinas. 
)efore  Corn- 
Greene  ro- 
ll to  refresh 
bn  he  again 
Ivo  buttle  at 
•nwallis  was 
Id  was  con- 


cerned, occurred  in  March.  "  Another  Huch  vio 
tory,"  said  Charles  Fox  in  the  House  of  CoiimmnH, 
"  will  ruin  the  British  army."  It  was  ilisiiHtrous 
to  Cornwallis,  and  he  hastened  with  tliu  roiiiaiim 
of  his  army  to  Wilmington,  near  the  seaboard, 
and  then  pushed  forward  into  Virginia,  whur^ 
Benedict  Arnold,  the  traitor,  was  marauding. 

^^^  During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1781, 
Greene  swept  every  vestige  of  British  power  from 
the  interior  of  the  Carolinas,  and  drove  the  enemy 
toward  the  coast.  Outposts,  forts,  eneampmonts, 
depots,  all  were  captured  or  broken  up,  and  tlio 
lost  South  was  almost  completely  regained.  When, 
in  October,  Cornwallis  surrendered  at  Yorktown, 
the  British  in  South  Carolina  were  coufinod  to 
Charleston,  and  those  in  Georgia  wore  hoinmod 
within  the  narrow  limits  of  Savannah  and  its  im- 
mediate vicinity. 

^'^^  After  in  vain  attempting  to  overrun  and  sub- 
due Virginia,  Cornwallis,  close  pressed  by  La 
Fayette,  Wayne  and  Steuben,  slowly  retired  sea- 
ward; and,  pursuant  to  orders  from  General  Clin- 
ton, to  be  prepared  to  come  to  his  aid  at  Now 
York,  if  necessary,  he  crossed  the  James  Hiver 
and  took  post  at  Portsmouth,  opposite  Norfolk. 
Disliking  that  situation,  he  entered  the  ChoHapoako 
Bay,  and  going  up  York  Eiver,  commenced  forti- 
fying the  village  of  York,  and  Gloucester  Point, 
opposite.  There  he  constructed  heavy  fortifications, 
and  seemed  to  defy  the  power  of  the  AmorioaQS. 


310 


Notes. 


m 


i    :»1 


^i'iJ 


!■ 


^1^ 


w  .;■ 


i;  I 


"'  When  General  Clinton  heard  of  the  march  of 
the  allied  armies  southward,  he  sent  Admiial 
Graves  to  assist  Cornwallis.  But  the  Count  De 
Grasse,  who  had  just  arrived  with  his  fleet  from 
the  West  Indies,  was  already  in  Lynn  Haven  Bay, 
within  the  capes,  and  Graves  could  not  enter  York 
River.  After  the  two  fleets  had  a  slight  combat 
just  outside  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake,  Graves 
withdrew. 

*^*  Count  Rochambeau,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  the  French  army  in  America,  joined  Washing- 
ton on  the  Hudson,  a  few  miles  above  New  York, 
in  the  summer  of  1781.  After  deceiving  Clinton 
into  the  belief  that  they  intended  to  attack  him 
in  New  York,  the  allied  armies  made  rapid 
marches  southward,  at  the  suggestion  of  La 
Fayette,  who  was  watching  Cornwallis  there. 
They  arrived  at  Williamsburgh,  a  few  miles  from 
Yorktown,  twelve  thousand  strong,  on  the  28  th  of 
September,  and  made  immediate  preparations  to 
Mtack  the  invader. 

*'^^  After  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga, 
in  1777,  to  Burgoyne  an  army,  was  a  favorite  ex- 
pression in  America,  when  alluding  to  a  total  and 
complete  capture. 

^26  According  to  Ovid,  in  his  Metamorphoses, 
Cadmus,  the  founder  of  Grecian  Thebes,  w'sh- 
irg  to  sacrifice  to  the  gods  a  cow  which  he  had 
followed  to  the  spot,  by  command  of  the  Delphic 
Oracle,  he  sent  to  a  fountain  for  water.     It  was 


Notes. 


3" 


6  march  of 
b  Admiral 
Count  De 
fleet  from 
[aven  Bay, 
mter  York 
lit  combat 
ke,  Graves 

er-in-chief 
I  Washiiig- 
N^ew  York, 
ng  Clinton 
ittack  bim 
lade  rapid 
on  of  La 
His  tbere. 
miles  from 
lie  28tb  of 
irations  to 

Saratoga, 
avorite  ex- 
i  total  and 

norpboses, 
bes,  w'sK- 
cb  he  bad 
e  Delphic 
It  was 


guarded  by  a  serpent,  which  he  afterwards  killed. 
By  direction  of  Minerva,  he  sowed  its  teeth,  and 
instantly  a  crop  of  armed  men  started  up  from  the 
ground,  five  of  whom  assisted  him  in  building 
Thebes. 

*"  Fnding  his  fortifications  to  be  gradually 
crumbling  under  the  terrible  blows  of  the  allied 
besiegers,  Cornwallis  sought  shelter  for  himself 
and  army,  by  flight.  He  determined  to  cross  the 
York  river,  break  through  the  French  troops  on 
the  other  side,  and  make  forced  marches  toward 
New  York.  Just  as  a  part  of  his  troops  were 
embarked  a  sudden  tempest  arose,  and  they  were 
driven  back.  Cornwallis  was  foiled,  and  saw  no 
alternative  but  surrender  or  destruction. 

"®  Yorktown  stands  upon  a  high  bluflf  of  rock 
marl,  making  the  shore  of  the  York  river,  very 
precipitous.  At  the  foot  of  this  bank  Cornwallis 
had  an  excavation  made,  in  which,  secure  from 
the  rage  of  battle  above,  he  held  councils  with  his 
officers.  That  excavation  has  now  disappeared, 
but  another  made  since,  was  shown  to  visitors,  at 
a  shilling  a-piece,  as  the  identical  one,  when  the 
writer  visited  Yorktown  a  few  years  ago. 

'^*  Driven  to  extremities,  and  despairing  of  aid 
from  General  Clinton,  Cornwallis  offered  to  nego- 
tiate for  a  surrender  of  his  whole  army.  It  was 
done,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  concourse  of 
people  assembled  from  the  country,  and  before 
the  allied  armies,  the  sword  of  Cornwallis  was 


312 


Notes 


1    !> 


y.-i 


i:'i  ■ 


delivered  by  General  O'Hara  to  General  Lincoln, 
and  the  whole  army  laid  down  their  arms,  on  the 
19th  of  October,  1781.  The  shipping  in  the 
river — every  thing — became  spoils  of  victory. 
The  whole  number  of  persons  surrendered,  was  a 
little  more  than  seven  thousand. 

130  rpjjg  Virginia  Loyalists,  and  those  who  had 
accompanied  Cornwallis  from  North  Carolinsi. 

"^  Edicts  issued  by  the  popes  were  called  Bulls, 
from  the  seal  {bulla)  attached  to  them.  These 
seals  were  made  of  metals  and  wax.  The  cele- 
brated "  golden  hull  "  of  the  Emperor  Charles  the 
Fourth,  was  so  called  because  the  seal  was  made 
of  gold. 

''■^  The  British  commanders,  and  especially 
Co  1  wallis,  had  proclaimed  full  protection  to  the 
Loyalists,  on  all  occasions.  There  were  about 
fifteen  hundred  Tories  with  Cornwallis  at  York- 
town.  All  the  favor  he  asked  for  them,  on  his 
surrender,  was  that  a  vessel  might  be  provided  to 
carry  away  the  most  obnoxious,  who  were  afraid 
to  meet  the  resentment  of  the  Whigs. 

*33  Genesis,  Chapter  iv. 


IM 


"  From  his  horrid  hair, 
Shakes  pestilence  and  war." 


Milton. 


135  y^Q  jjg^yg   l^efore  alluded   to  the  often   re- 
peated assurances  in  British  proclamations,  that 


al  Lincoln, 
ms,  on  the 
ng  in  tho 
»f  victory. 
3red,  was  a 

e  who  had 
i,rolina. 
illed  Bulls, 
m.     These 

The  cele- 
[jharles  the 

was  made 

especially 
ion  to  the 
ere  about 
at  York- 
&m,  on  his 
rovided  to 
^ere  afraid 


Notes 


3>3 


Milton. 

often   re- 
tions,  that 


the  "  door  of  mercy  is  now  open,"  and  *'  tho  door 
of  mercy  will  be  shut."  Tlie  poet  seemed  to  fear 
that  the  hinge  of  that  door  so  constantly  swinging, 
might  be  quite  worn  out. 

138  rjijjg  genius  of  America  was  generally  repre- 
sented as  a  native  female,  in  the  scant  costume  of 
the  aborigines,  and  head  dressed  with  the  long 
plumage  of  the  eagle  and  other  birds.  Such  a 
figure  may  be  seen  on  the  colonial  pendant  seals. 
"  Tories  dressed  in  plumes,"  is  an  allusion  to  their 
being  tarred  and  feathered. 

'^^  Referring  to  the  American  flag. 
'^  In  allusion  to  Lord  Mansfield's  favorite  dis- 
position of  culprits,  by  transporting  them  into 
exile  in  some  colony  of  Great  Britain. 

""  King  George  the  Third,  and  Lord  North,  his 
prime  minister. 

**°  In  law,  a  writ  to  restrain  a  person  from 
going  out  of  the  kingdom,  without  the  king's  per- 
mission. 

"^  The  description  of  Continental  paper  money, 
which  here  follows,  is  one  of  the  finest  examples  of 
the  sublime  burlesque  to  be  found  in  our  language, 
especially  when  all  its  allusions  are  made  plain  by 
the  light  of  history. 

'*''  The  crutches  called  "  Regulation  "  and  "  Ten- 
der,"  by  which  the  specter  was  supported,  T\ore  the 
acts  of  the  State  legislatures,  in  their  attempts  to 
prevent  the  depreciation  of  the  Continental  money, 
and  to  maintain  its  credit.  Some  of  those  acts 
14     . 


t  " 


ff 


'IJ 


'     ( 


I'  If  ' 


314 


Notes. 


were  for  the  regulation  of  the  prices  of  commodi- 
ties, and  the  others  were  to  make  that  paper  a 
lawful  tender,  in  payment  for  goods,  or  debts. 

'^  On  all  the  emissions  of  Continental  Bills, 
there  was  printed  the  pledge  of  Congress  for  their 
punctual  redemption,  in  the  words,  "  The  Faith  of 
the  United  States." 

'**  See  Note  62,  Canto  IV. 

"'^  On  the  22d  of  June,  1775,  the  Continental 
Congress  resolved  to  issue  bills  of  credit,  or  paper 
money,  to  pay  the  current  expenses  of  the  war. 
This  was  called  Continental  money.     These  hiVia 
were   issued   soon  afterward,  and  new  emissions 
were  authorized  from  time  to  time,  until  the  aggre- 
gate sum  put  forth  represented  two  hundred  mil- 
lions of  dollars.     Within  a  little  more  than  two 
years  after  their  emission,  they  began  i  0  depreciate 
in  value,  because  the  pledge,  printed  upon   each 
bill,  that  Congress  would  pay  gold  and  silver  for 
them,  could  not  be  redeemed.     In  1780,  forty 
paper  dollars  were  worth  only  one  in  specie ;  and 
so  rapid  was  the  depreciation,  that  at  the  close  of 
1781,  they  were  worthless.     They  had  performed 
a  temporary  public  good,  but  produced  much  in- 
convenience, and  even  suffering,  to  individuals. 
To  the  worthlessness  of  this  currency  the  poet  al- 
ludes in  speaking  of  the  "  Ghost  of  Continental 
money." 

"*  Brazil  in  South  America,  is  one  of  the  chief 
sources  from  whence  diamonds  have  been  pro- 


Notes. 


3>5 


oommodi- 
b  paper  a 
dobts. 
ital  Bills, 
IS  for  their 
3  Faith  of 


ontinental 
t,  or  paper 
f  the  war. 
These  bilia 
emissioDS 
the  aggre- 
ndred  mil- 
than  two 
depreciate 
ipon   each 
silver  for 
780,  forty 
>ecie ;  and 
le  close  of 
performed 
much  in- 
dividuals, 
le  poet  al- 
ontinental 

the  chief 
been  pro- 


cured in  modern  times.  The  allusion  to  Peruvian 
wealth,  refers  to  the  rich  gold  and  silver  mines — 
the  richest  then  known  in  the  world — discovered  by 
the  Spanish  conquerors  of  Peru,  as  well  as  the  im- 
mense amount  of  precious  metals  found  in  the 
temples,  and  in  the  palaces  of  the  Incas  or  rulers 
of  that  country. 

"*^  Danae  was  the  daughter  of  a  king  of  Argos, 
who  on  consulting  an  oracle,  was  told  tliat  she 
would  bear  a  son  who  would  deprive  the  king  of 
his  life.  To  prevent  this,  the  king  shut  her  up 
in  a  brazen  tower,  with  her  nurse.  Jupiter  had 
seen  and  loved  the  maiden ;  and  under  the  form 
of  a  golden  shower,  he  poured  through  the  roof, 
into  her  bosom.  She  became  the  mother  of  Per- 
seus, by  Jupiter,  and  the  young  man  killed  his 
grandfather,  by  accident. 

^^  One  of  the  most  ruinous  speculations  of 
modern  times,  was  the  conception  of  John  Law  of 
Edinburgh,  who,  by  remarkable  shrewdness  in 
financial  schemes,  became  comptroller-general  of 
the  treasury  of  France.  He  proposed  three 
schemes — a  bank,  an  East  India  Company,  and  a 
Mississippi  Land  and  Trading  Company.  The 
French  ministry  became  enamored  with  his  plans 
in  1710,  and  in  1716  Law  opened  a  bank  in  his 
own  name,  under  the  Regent  of  France.  Most  of 
the  people  of  property,  and  of  all  ranks,  pur- 
chased shares  in  his  bank  and  his  companies,  with 
the  expectation  of  immense  profits.     His  was  de- 


!i 


I]:'    \ 


:  I 


9 


■% 


I '  'i 


I'  ''1 


fl: 


3 
ft'  ■■ 


.•;,* 


w 


w 


lit: 


N;•;S^  ■'     ^'1 


If  I'm 


ifp'f 


316 


Notes. 


clared  a  royal  bank  in  1718.  The  slmros  rapidly 
appreciated  in  value — upwards  of  twenty-fold  tliab 
of  the  original — and  in  1710,  they  were  worth 
eighty  times  the  amount  of  all  tlio  current  specie 
in  Franco.  That  great  fabric  of  false  credit  fell  to 
the  ground  the  following  year,  and  almost  pros- 
trated the  French  government  in  its  fall.  Tens 
of  thousands  of  families  were  utterly  ruined. 

'*'  It  is  a  singular  fact  that  a  sehomo  of  specu- 
lation similar  to  that  of  Law's  in  Franco,  had 
birth  in  England  the  same  year  (1710),  and  ex- 
ploded the  same  year  (1720).  A  company  was 
incorporated  in  1716,  under  the  name  of  the 
South  Sea  Company.  The  aifair  promised  im- 
mense gains  to  the  stockholders,  and  the  shares, 
originally  £100,  raised  to  the  enormous  price  of 
£1000 !  As  in  France,  almost  every  person  of 
wealth  in  Great  Britain,  became  stookjobbers  and 
speculators  in  the  fatal  scheme.  The  airy  fabric 
fell  in  1720,  and  ruined  thousands  of  families. 
The  estates  of  the  directors,  valued  at  £2,014,000, 
were  seized  in  1721.  Mr.  Knight,  the  cashier, 
absconded  with  £100,000,  but  compounded  for 
£10,000,  and  returned.  The  suocoss  of  Law's 
scheme  in  France,  was  the  origin  of  ilio  similar 
scheme  in  England.  The  papers  and  pampldcts  of 
the  time,  contained  many  squibs  during  tlio  pre- 
valence of  the  mania,  and  after  the  bubble  lurst, 
caricatures  in  abundance  appeared,  in  ridicule  of 
the   whole   thing.     "  Bubble-Cards "  woro   ascd 


Notes. 


3^7 


pos  rapidly 
y-fold  that 
roro  worth 
rent  sponio 
rod  it  loll  to 
most  pros- 
rail.  Tons 
inod. 

0  of  spcou- 

ranco,  had 

)),  and  ox- 

mpaiiy  waa 

mo  of  the 

Dmisod  im- 

tho  Hhares, 

lis  price  of 

person  of 

obborH  and 

airy  fabric 

f  families. 

:2,014,000, 

10  caHhier, 

uiidcd   for 

of  Law's 
ilio  nimilar 
mpMcts  of 
IT  tho  pre- 
)blc  lurst, 

idiculo  of 
wore    iscd 


by  players,  all  bearing  some  appropriate  verso, 
give  one  as  a  fair  specimen : 

"  A  Indy  pawns  her  jowolfi  by  her  maid, 
And  in  declining  stoclt  j)r('sunies  to  trade, 
Till  in  South  Sea  at  lonj,'th  who  drowns  her  coin, 
And  now  in  Ilriritol  stones  glud  is  to  shuu." 

»Bo  rpij^  infancy  of  modern  choniistry,  ansumed 
the  charlatan  form  of  Alchemy,  or  the  pretenco  of 
transmuting  baser  metals  into  gold.  It  was  pre- 
tended that  a  certain  powder,  known  to  chemists, 
would  convert  base  metals  into  gold ;  and  many 
men  have  wnsted  their  lives  in  attempts  to  dis- 
cover this  philosopher's  sione,  as  that  powder  was 
called.  At  about  1782,  Dr.  Price,  of  Guilford, 
England,  professed  to  have  made  the  discovery, 
and  carried  specimens  of  his  gold  to  the  king,  af- 
firming that  it  was  made  by  means  of  a  red  and 
white  powder.  lie  was  a  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
Society,  and  was  required,  on  pain  of  expulsion, 
to  repeat  his  experiments  before  a  committee  of 
that  body.  After  some  equivocation,  he  committed 
suicide  by  the  use  of  poison,  in  178'^.  The  Phi- 
losopher's stone  may  be  ranked  with  Perpetual 
motion,  the  Inextinguishable  lamp,  the  Quadra- 
ture of  the  circle,  and  other  impossibilities,  which 
have  puzzled  and  deranged  the  brains  of  other- 
wise sensible  men. 

'^'  The  name  *£  Midas  appears  among  tho  earli- 
est mythological  legends  of  the  Greeks,  as  king 


! 


3i8 


Notes. 


!■'■>. 


!J^ 


f^l'il*  k 


u 


of  a  district  in  Thrace.  One  legend  (to  which  our 
poet  here  refers),  represents  Midas  as  having  on 
one  occasion  excited  the  gratitude  of  Bacchus, 
who  desired  him  to  ask  any  favor  he  pleased. 
Midas  requested  that  whatever  he  touched  might 
be  turned  to  gold.  It  was  granted.  The  myth 
doubtless  illustrates  the  historical  fact  of  an  an- 
cient Phrygian  prince,  who  became  very  wealthy 
by  mines  and  by  commercial  operations. 

'®^  The  Continental  money,  as  here  indicated, 
performed  a  vast  amount  of  public  good,  during 
the  first  years  of  the  war,  notwithstanding  its  de- 
preciation, as  we  have  said,  fell  heavily  upon  the 
great  mass  of  the  people.  It  carried  on  the  finan- 
cial operations  of  the  war ;  and  weak  and  faithless 
as  it  afterwards  proved,  it  was  the  very  sinews  of 
strength  in  providing  means  for  opposing  the  su- 
perior power  of  Grreat  Britain,  in  the  conflict. 

'^^  In  order  to  facilitate  the  depreciation  of 
Continental  paper  money,  and  thus  weaken  this 
arm  of  patriotic  resistance,  vast  quantities  of 
counterfeit  Continental  bills  were  printed,  and 
sent  into  the  country  from  New  York  and  Long 
Island.  In  Gaine's  New  York  Mercury,  April 
14th,  1777,  appeared  the  following  significant  ad- 
vertisement :  "  Persons  going  into  other  colonies 
may  be  supplied  with  any  number  of  counterfeited 
Congress  notes,  for  the  price  of  the  paper  per  ream. 
They  are  so  neatly  and  exactly  executed,  that 
there  is  no  risk  in  getting  them  off,  being  almost 


'm 


Notes. 


319 


which  our 
having  on 
f  Bacchus, 
le  pleased, 
shod  might 

The  myth 
t  of  an  an- 
ry  wealthy 

indicated, 
>od,  during 
liug  its  de- 
[y  upon  the 
n  the  finan- 
nd  faithless 
[y  sinews  of 
ing  the  su- 
juflict. 
iciation  of 
weaken  this 
mtities   of 
inted,  and 
and  Long 
ury^  April 
lificant  ad- 
3r  colonies 
nterfeited 
per  ream, 
ted,   that 
ing  almost 


impossible  to  discover  that  they  are  not  genuine. 
This  has  been  proven  by  bills  to  a  very  large 
amount  which  have  already  been  successfully  cir- 
culated. Inquire  of  Q.  E.  D.  at  the  coffee-house, 
from  11  A.  M.  to  5  P.  M.  during  the  present 
month."  These  counterfeits  were  sent  into  the 
country  by  cart-loads.  Such  was  one  of  the  dis- 
honorable modes  of  warfare,  employed  by  the 
British  conunanders  here.  The  younger  Pitt, 
when  prime  minister  of  England,  caused  a  large 
number  of  French  assignats  to  be  forged  at  Bir- 
mingham, to  depreciate  the  currency  of  the  French 
republic.  Napoleon  also  caused  forged  notes  of 
the  Austrian  Bank  to  be  distributed  throughout 
the  Austrian  Tyrol. 

^^  Exodus,  Chapter  viii ,  verse  17. 

'"  Portions  of  the  shores  of  Great  Britain  are 
remarkable  for  cliffs  of  chalk,  which  may  be  seen 
at  a  great  distance.  For  this  reason,  Caesar  gave 
it  the  name  of  Albion. 

^  The  common  penalty  for  felony  in  England, 
was  transportation  to  the  colonies,  and  many  left 
their  country  for  their  country's  good.  The  idea 
of  transporting  the  whole  Island,  was  a  grand  am- 
plification in  the  mind  of  the  poet. 

'"  The  superficial  area  of  Lake  Erie  is  greater 
than  that  of  England ;  while  Lake  Superior,  the 
largest  body  of  fresh  water  in  the  world,  is 
twenty-two  hundred  miles  in  circumference.  Eng- 
land might  be  placed  in  its  centre,  and  its  people 


;20 


Notes, 


B''*sJ-  r  J.  ' 

(mi  ■  'lil! 


'  liiii, 


mii  m 


could  hardly  spy  the  main  from  its  shores.  This 
couplet,  however,  drew  down  upon  the  head  of  the 
author  very  severe  rebuke  from  the  British  press 
in  after  years.  The  poem  was  first  published 
complete  in  America  in  1782.  Some  years  after- 
ward it  was  reprinted  in  London.  In  the  moan- 
while  Lord  North,  who  was  always  near-sighted, 
had  lost  his  sight  entirely,  and  the  critics  unfairly 
imagined  that  these  two  lines  were  intended  as  a 
cruel  insult.  In  a  subsequent  edition,  the  name 
of  the  king  was  inserted  in  place  of  that  of 
North.  A  few  years  afterward,  the  king  also  was 
afflicted  with  blindness.  So,  to  later  readers,  the 
unfortunate  poet  still  appeared  cruel. 

^*^  This  refers  to  the  confederacy  of  the  Northern 
European  powers  against  England,  commenced  in 
1780  by  the  Empress  Catharine,  of  Russia.  The 
ostensible  object  was  to  protect  the  rights  of  neu- 
trals in  time  of  war — the  real  object  was  to  crip- 
ple the  maritime  power  of  England.  Catharine 
issued  her  proclamation  in  February.  In  the 
course  of  the  summer,  Prussia,  Denmark,  and 
Sweden,  became  parties  to  the  policy  declared  by 
the  Czarina,  namely,  that  no  port  should  be  con- 
sidered blockaded,  unless  there  was  sufficient  force 
present  to  maintain  a  blockade.  In  November 
the  States-General  of  Holland  joined  the  con- 
federacy. France  and  Spain  also  acquiesced  in  the 
new  maritime  code,  and  a  general  Continental  war 
against  England  appeared  inevitable.     This  was 


Notes. 


321 


ores.     This 
head  of  the 
iritish  press 
,t  published 
years  after- 
n  the  mean- 
Qoar-sighted, 
tics  uufairly 
itended  as  a 
n,  the  name 
i    of  that   of 
ving  also  was 
r  readers,  the 

the  Northern 
ommenced  in 
Llussia.     The 
ights  of  neu- 
was  to  crip- 
Catharine 
iry.      In    the 
)enmark,  and 
y  declared  by 
hould  be  con- 
sufficient  force 
In  November 
ned  the    con- 
aiesced  in  the 
ontinental  war 
de.     This  was 


called  the  Armed  Neutrality.  The  scheme  failed, 
however,  because  of  a  want  of  confidence  in  the 
faithfulness  of  the  Empress. 

159  rpjjjg  ^g^g  ^Q^  uttered  in  a  spirit  of  prophecy, 
yet  how  prophetic  were  the  words,  let  current  his- 
tory testify.  Freneau,  another  poet  of  the  Kevo- 
lution,  seemed  equally  prophetic  in  his  Rising 
Glory  of  Amerieay  written  in  1776.     He  says  : 

"  I  see,  I  see 


Freedom's  established  reign ;  cities  and  men, 
Numerous  as  sands  upon  the  ocean's  shore, 
And  empires  rising  where  the  sun  descends! 
The  Ohio  soon  shall  glide  by  many  a  town 
Of  note  ;  and  where  the  Mississippi  stream, 
By  forests  shaded,  now  runs  weeping  on. 
Nations  shall  grow,  and  states  not  less  in  fame 
Than  Greece  and  Rome  of  old !  " 

180  -^g  g^jj  never  sufficiently  lament  this  sudden 
termination  of  the  Vision,  for  it  might  have  ex- 
tended far  down  the  ages  beyond  our  present  experi- 
ence, and  revealed  future  realities  which  have  not 
yet  become  elements  of  our  dreams. 

"  either  tropic  now, 
'Gan  thunder." 

Milton's  Paradise  Regained. 

The  poet  here  uses  a  common  phrase  with 
the  British  officers  during  the  war.  Every  officer 
who  luckily  escaped  capture  or  destruction,  de- 
scribed his  retreat  as  having  "  been  under  the  very 
nose  of  the  enemy.". 

"^  In  allusion  to  the  fact  that  all  obnoxious 
14* 


lei 


16<2 


322 


Notes. 


New  England  Tories,  when  the  places  of  their 
abode  became  too  hot  for  them,  hastened  to  Boston, 
and  placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the 
British.  M'Fingal,  for  his  loyalty,  and  for  his 
courage  when  out  of  the  presence  of  danger,  was 
as  highly  deserving  oi  that  protection,  as  his  great 
needs,  at  that  perilous  moment,  could  claim. 

^^  Genesis,  Chapter  xix. 

"*  After  the  Americans  had  promulgated  therr 
Declaration  of  Independence,  the  ministerial 
speakers  in  parliament,  and  writers  in  favor  of 
the  government,  amused  themselves  by  calling  it, 
"  The  Phantom  of  Independence."  The  news- 
papers echoed  the  simile,  and  it  was  a  favorite 
idea  until  it  assumed  a  shape  so  substantial,  in 
the  progress  of  the  war,  as  to  make  the  word 
ridiculous. 

"'  The  hegira  of  M'Fingal,  was  a  memorable 
epoch  in  the  computation  oi  the  Loyalists.  Epic 
poetry  has  scarcely  a  parallel  in  giving  the  grand 
catastrophe — the  denotiement  of  the  story.  We 
would  gladly  tell  the  reader  more  of  the  life  of 
the  hero — ^his  sufferings  in  exile — his  promotion 
in  office — ^his  safe  denunciations  of  democracy 
"  under  the  very  nose  "  of  monarchy — but  the  re- 
spectful silence  of  the  poet  puts  an  injunction  of 
secrecy  upon  the  pen  of  the  Annotator. 


les  of  their 
i  to  Boston, 
ction  of  the 
md  for  his 
danger,  was 
as  his  great 
claim. 

[gated  their 
ministerial 
in  favor  of 
►y  calling  it. 
The  news- 
i  a  favorite 
bstantial,  in 
:e  the  word 

memorable 
ilists.  Epic 
g  the  grand 

story.  We 
'  the  life  of 
s  promotion 
'  democracy 
—but  the  re- 
Djunction  of 
}ator. 


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